Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:13:41 PM
DD on MMTE, Lithium, Chile, Atacama Desert
MMTE Management
Mr. William Lieberman
Chief Executive Officer and President
Mr. Lieberman is the former President of Trilliant Exploration Corp., a gold mining operation with assets in southern Ecuador and nearly 200 employees in full scale mining production with reserves of nearly 1.2 million oz. He worked closely and was intimately involved in all stages of financing and development of Trilliant Exploration and his efforts resulted in the closing of nearly $3 MM venture capital and private equity investment. Beginning in 2005, Mr. Lieberman served as Vice President of Resource Polymers, Inc of Toronto, Canada. Mr. Lieberman holds a Masters in Business Administration from Hult International Business School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. He is fluent in Spanish and has worked in Ecuador, Costa Rica, The Bahamas, Germany, the Czech Republic, Romania and Mexico as a former international journalist.
Samir Ahshrup
Secretary and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Ahshrup a native of Malaysia is experienced in energy, government and the telecommunications industries. Working internationally his expertise has lied in strategy formulation and program implementation through out Fortune 500 firms. He began his career with the consulting company Traderoof and in 2005 he joined the Computer Science Corporation, in which he led the consulting team that designed Maybank’s online cash management system in Malaysia. Mr. Ahshrup has also worked as a Product Manager at Siemens and has consulted at PA Consulting Group, in Boston, MA. Throughout 2008 and 2009, he was involved in writing and successfully prepared a case to secure over $70 Million in clean energy stimulus funds for the state of Massachusetts from the federal government. Mr. Ahshrup graduated with a Masters in Business Administration from the Hult International School of Business Administration with honors and holds an Engineering Degree from the University Putra Malaysian in Computer and Communications Systems. He is fluent in Malay, English, Indonesian, Hindi and Punjab.
Advisory Board Member Maurice J. Colson
EXECUTIVE PROFILE*
Maurice J. Colson B.A., M.B.A Return to CROWFLIGHT MINERALS INC
Ceo, President, Director, Member of Compensation Committee, Member of Audit Committee and Member of Corporate Governance Committee, Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd.
BACKGROUND*
Mr. Maurice J. Colson BA, MBA has been Director of Corporate Finance at SearchGold Resources Inc. since July 2011. Mr. Colson has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of UNOR Inc. since February 2010. Mr. Colson serves as the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Rovos Exploration Inc. He has been the Chief Executive Officer and President at Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd. since February 2010. He is actively involved in providing strategic counsel and assistance with financing to emerging private and public companies in Canada and to Canadian companies operating in China, Africa, and South America. Mr. Colson is actively involved in raising capital for junior companies and has participated in raising up to $500 mil ion in such financings. He serves as a Financial Consultant in the investment industry. He has more than 35 years experience in various executive levels of the investment and corporate finance industry with a particular focus on the resource sector. He has extensive experience in the investment banking industry. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lithium One Resources. He has extensive underwriting experience with a focus on several industries, including mining, oil and gas and the forestry industries and has been actively involved with several companies operating in mainland China. His investment industry experience includes institutional sales and sales management with several major Canadian investment dealers, both in Canada and London, England. Mr. Colson served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Lithium One Inc. from August 29, 2007 to July 2008. Mr. Colson served as Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary of Azia Corp. (formerly Visual Bible International Inc.,) from February 6, 2004 to April 8, 2005 and as its Principal Accounting Officer. Mr. Colson served as Interim Chief Financial Officer of Azia Corp. from May 22, 2004 to November 2004. He served as Vice President of First Marathon Securities Ltd., where he was one of the original Partners. He served as the Executive Vice President of Rampart Mercantile Inc., from March 2001 to November 2001. He served as the Vice President of Maison Placement Inc., since November 2001. He served as the Managing Director for major Canadian Investment Dealer in Europe. He served in various capacities, including Chairman of Brenark Securities Inc., from September 1997 to March 2001 and Executive Vice President from June 1994 to September 1997. He served as Executive Vice President of Dominick and Dominick Securities Inc., from September 1997 to March 2001. From January 2001 to December 2004, he served as an Associate of Power Budd LLP, Barristers & Solicitors. He was involved as an Original Partner in two Canadian investment dealers and was responsible for developing the Québec institutional market for several major investment dealers. Mr. Colson was involved with the financing of several Canadian and international mining companies and provided assistance as a Strategic Partner in the formation of several companies in mainland China. He was responsible for securing the financing, which are listed on Canadian exchanges. He participated in the sourcing, analysis and negotiation of many financings in a variety of industry sectors. He served as the Chairman of the Board at Azia Corp. from January 27, 2004 to November 2004. He served as the Chairman of Mag Copper Limited (formerly Fort Chimo Minerals Inc.) until August 2008. He served as Vice Chairman of Lithium One Inc. He has been Director of Loncor Resources Inc. since April 2011. He has been a Director of Lithium One Inc. since August 29, 2007. He serves as a Director of Lithium One Inc. since August 29, 2007. He serves as Director of Rovos Exploration Inc. He has been a Director of Apogee Silver Ltd (also known as Apogee Minerals Ltd). since March 2011. He has been Member of Non Executive Advisory Board at Mammoth Energy Group, Inc., since August 2011. He has been a Director of Sagittarius Capital Corporation since April 20, 2007, BRC DiamondCore Ltd. since August 2010 and China GoldCorp. Ltd. since November 2007. He has been Director of SearchGold Resources Inc., since July 2011 and Delrand Resources Limited since August 11, 2010. Mr. Colson has been a Director of Alexis Minerals Corp., since September 5, 2003. He has been a Director of Stetson Oil and Gas Ltd. since March 11, 2011. He has been a Director of UNOR Inc. and Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd. since February 3, 2010. He sits on the board of directors of several TSX and TSX Venture listed companies. He served as a Director of Canickel Mining, Ltd. (formerly Crowflight Minerals Inc.,) from October 12, 2004 to November 2010. He served as an Independent Director of Golden Tag Resources Ltd. since 2004. He served as a Director of Triumph Ventures Corp. from January 2010 to October 2011. He served as an Independent Director of Medifocus Inc., from February 14, 2006 to November 2008. He served on the board of public and private company and has been honored as a Freeman of the City of London. He served as Director of Cathay Forest Products Corp. until August 2005. He served as a Director of Pacific Vegas Global Strategies Inc. He served as a Director of Azia Corp. from June 12, 2002 to April 8, 2005. Mr. Colson served as a Director of Landmark Global Financial Corporation since 2001. He served as a Director of Vast Exploration Inc., since July 29, 2004. He served as a Director of Diadem Resources Ltd. until October 25, 2004. He was the resident Director in London, England for two of Canada's leading investment dealers. Mr. Colson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Loyola College in Montreal and a Masters of Business Administration from McGill University and did post graduate studies at Oxford University.
Read Full Background
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS*
275 Richmond Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5V 1X1
Canada
Phone: 416-368-0114
Fax: 416-368-0198
Board Members MEMBERSHIPS*
Former Director
Landmark Global Financial Corporation
Former Director
Diadem Resources Ltd.
Former Director
Cathay Forest Products Corp.
Former Director
Pacific Vegas Global Strategies Inc.
Former Chairman
Mag Copper Limited
Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Director and Member of Audit Committee
Rovos Exploration Inc.
2002-2005
Former Chief Executive Officer, President, Principal Accounting Officer, Secretary and Director
Azia Corp
2003-Present
Director, Chairman of Audit Committee, Member of Compensation Committee and Member of Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee
Alexis Minerals Corp.
2004-N/A
Former Independent Director
Golden Tag Resources Ltd.
2004-N/A
Former Director
Vast Exploration Inc.
2004-2010
Former Independent Director, Member of Audit Committee, Member of Compensation Committee and Member of Corporate Governance Committee
Canickel Mining, Ltd.
2006-2008
Former Director
Medifocus Inc.
2006-N/A
Former Independent Director and Member of Audit Committee
Medifocus Inc., Prior to reverse merger with Celsion (Canada) Limited
2007-Present
Director and Member of Audit Committee
Lithium One Inc.
2007-Present
Director and Member of Audit Committee
China Goldcorp Ltd.
2007-Present
Director and Member of Audit Committee
Sagittarius Capital Corporation
2010-Present
Non-Executive Director and Member of Audit Committee
Delrand Resources Limited
2010-Present
Ceo, President, Director, Member of Compensation Committee, Member of Audit Committee and Member of Corporate Governance Committee
Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd.
2010-2011
Former Director and Member of Audit Committee
Triumph Ventures Corp.
2011-Present
Non Executive Director, Member of Compensation Committee and Member of Audit Committee
Loncor Resources Inc.
2011-Present
Director
Apogee Silver Ltd.
2011-Present
Director and Member of Audit Committee
Stetson Oil and Gas Ltd.
2011-Present
Director of Corporate Finance and Director
SearchGold Resources Inc.
EDUCATION*
Master's Degree
University of Oxford
MBA
Concordia University
OTHER AFFILIATIONS*
Loncor Resources Inc.
Lithium One Inc.
Azia Corp
Landmark Global Financial Corporation
Diadem Resources Ltd.
Apogee Silver Ltd.
Golden Tag Resources Ltd.
Vast Exploration Inc.
Canickel Mining, Ltd.
Alexis Minerals Corp.
Delrand Resources Limited
Stetson Oil and Gas Ltd.
SearchGold Resources Inc.
Loyola College in Maryland
Concordia University
McGill University
University of Oxford
Cathay Forest Products Corp.
Pacific Vegas Global Strategies Inc.
Mag Copper Limited
China Goldcorp Ltd.
Medifocus Inc.
Medifocus Inc., Prior to reverse merger with Celsion (Canada) Limited
Mammoth Energy Group, Inc.
Sagittarius Capital Corporation
Rovos Exploration Inc.
Triumph Ventures Corp.
Mammoth Energy Group Inc.
545 Eighth Avenue Suite 401, New York NY 10018
TEL 212-613-5453 | FAX 212-501-2082 | EMAIL info@mammoth-energy.com
Stock Symbol: MMTE
Salar de Maricunga:
Acres: 8649 acres (3500 Hectares)
Concessions: 13
Location: Commune—Copiapo
The Salar is located approximately 230km from the international airport of Caldera, and approximately 250km from the mining port of Chañaral. All these facilities are connected to the Salar by paved roads that can be used throughout the year.
The Salar de Maricunga is the second largest basin in Region III and has a basin area of 3,045 km2. This basin is characterized by significant morphological, climatic and geological variations, which normally occurs with major river basins.
NI 43-101 WERE DONE 30 YEARS AGO.
During the 1980's, the "Comite de Sales Mixtas" CORFO (State Agency of the Republic of Chile) carried out a study in order to determine the potential in inorganic salts of commercial interest of the Salars. After performing a sampling and chemical analysis program, CORFO the following mineral resource at the Salar de Maricunga:
224,300 tonnes of Li; or
600,000 tonnes of Recoverable Li2CO3 (utilizing a 50% recovery factor); or
30,000 tonnes per year of Lithium Carbonate for 20 years
3,274,000 tonnes of KCl (potash); or
2,300,000 tonnes of KCl (utilizing a 70% recovery factor); or
115,000 tonnes per year of KCl for 20 years or 96% or Alfredo Requirements
Salar del Laco:
Acres: 2471 acres (1000 Hectares)
Concessions: 6
Location: Commune—San Pedro de Atacama
The Salar de laco is approximately 10 miles from the border of Argentina and approximately fifty miles away from the Salar de Atacama, Chile’s largest mined lithium reserve. The Salar de laco has similar geology to the Salar de Atacama where lithium concentrations average between 500 to 750 ppm lithium
Salar de Pujsa:
Acres: 4695 acres (1900 Hectares)
Concessions: 7
Location: Commune—San Pedro de Atacama
The Salar de Pujsa is located in the north east corner of Chile, close to the borders of both Boliva and Argentina, approximately thirty-five miles away from the Salar de Atacama, Chile’s largest mined lithium reserve.
The Salar de Pujsa has similar geology to the Salar de Atacama where lithium concentrations average between 500 to 750 ppm lithium and 9000-10000 ppm for potassium and is the largest lithium brine mined in the world.
Salar de Maricunga:
Click to view composition of concentration levels
Acres: 8649 acres (3500 Hectares)
Concessions: 13
Location: Commune—Copiapo
Salar del Laco:
Click to view composition of concentration levels
Acres: 2471 acres (1000 Hectares)
Concessions: 6
Location: Commune—San Pedro de Atacama
Salar de Pujsa:
Click to view composition of concentration levels
Acres: 4695 acres (1900 Hectares)
Concessions: 7
Location: Commune—San Pedro de Atacama
Press Release Source: Mammoth Energy Group, Inc. On Wednesday September 28, 2011, 9:15 am EDT
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -09/28/11)- Mammoth Energy Group Inc. (Pinksheets: MMTE.PK - News), a lithium and alternative energy mining company, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Compania Lithium Investments Limitada of Chile has acquired five additional concessions for a total of 2471 acres (1000 hectares) of lithium concessions located at Laguna Lagunilla situated in the Pica commune.
Mammoth Energy Group's Compania Lithium Investments Limitada has already acquired an initial thirteen lithium concessions for a total of 8649 acres (3500 Hectares) in the southern section of the Salar de Maricunga, seven concessions for a total of 4695 acres (1900 hectares) in the Salar de Pujsa, 2471 acres (1000 hectares) in the Salar del Laco for a total of over 18,000 combined acres throughout Chile. The company is currently in acquisition mode and Compania Lithium Investments Limitada was created to acquire, develop and explore lithium and mining assets in Chile on behalf of Mammoth Energy Group Inc.
"We are currently finalizing additional contracts and are making the steps needed to improve all aspects of our operations for our shareholders," said William Lieberman, President of Mammoth Energy Group.
RECENT HEADLINES FOR MMTE
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=MMTE.PK&t=2011-09-28T09:15:00-04:00
Atacama Desert
The Salar de Atacama or Atacama Salt Flats, located 55 kilometers north of the popular tourist town of San Pedro is not only the largest in the world; it is also where 40% of the world’s reserves are found of a mineral that is key for technological development: lithium. The reason is that whereas before, batteries were fabricated with nickel cadmium, today lithium has positioned itself as a much cleaner, more efficient alternative.
With the explosive growth of the cell phone and portable computer markets, the demand for lithium has also grown exponentially. Despite the fact that it is not yet being traded in financial markets as other raw materials, lithium carbonate (the chemical salt derived from lithium that is most actively traded in world markets) doubled its price in 2009, moving up to US$7,000/ton.
“Chile, and particularly Salar de Atacama, has the largest reserves of lithium in the world, estimated at 40 million tons of lithium carbonate out of a total of 100 million tons worldwide,” explained Andrés Yaksic, Marketing Manager of SQM, a Chilean company producing nearly 40,000 tons of the mineral in northern Chile.
Chile’s Market Edge
However, aside from having this resource, Chile has a long mining tradition (the country is the world’s number one copper producer), as well as the infrastructure needed to develop the lithium industry. Yaksic assured us that thanks to Atacama’s climatic conditions, solar energy is the primary energy source for the process of refining lithium concentrate, making its production a much more sustainable process.
“Lithium is used most of all for manufacturing rechargeable batteries for portable devices such as laptops, cell phones and iPods – 27% of production is aimed at this industry – and also for the process of glass production,” Yaksic explained.
In recent years, it has been estimated that lithium production for battery manufacturers has been growing by 20% yearly, with Mitsubishi forecasting ratcheted demand levels for the next 10 years. Moreover, according to the US Department of the Interior’s US Minerals Yearbook, lithium’s natural properties make it a more attractive material for batteries. “Lithium batteries have enormous potential for sustained growth,” the study points out. “Despite the fact that there are still some aspects that need to be resolved, new technologies involving lithium are currently being developed. Its use could generate a tremendous growth in demand.”
Indeed, car manufacturers such as Toyota, GM, Mercedes Benz and BMW are already using lithium in their hybrid models, while other companies such as Volkswagen, Nissan-Renault and Mitsubishi itself have announced they will also implement it in their vehicles.
CBS News Report on Lithium 2010 - Visit to Chile, Argentina, Bolivia (Atacama Desert)
"Richest deposits of ideal conditions" per video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ59WHzU9Lc
Lithium in Chile - EXCELLENT article on Atacama Desert
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-5298671-500803.html
(CBS)Believe it or not, there's a place on the planet that sees one inch of rain every thirteen years. It's a desert in Chile called Salar de Atacama. It's the driest place on earth – a fact even introduced once on "Jeopardy" -- but for producers of lithium, this desert is one of the richest. Above ground is a vast wasteland of dried clumps of clay, some the size of a child's bicycle. Nothing grows out here. Below ground, though, is a different story.
"This is the best place on earth," Ron France told me in the middle of the desert. Neither of us could have traveled to many places that were more remote. France is president of Chemetall, an American company that produces lithium. Lithium is the world's lightest metal, and the energy source in the batteries of cell phones, laptops and Blackberrys.
Snow melts off the nearby Andes mountains and is trapped underground is this closed basin. One-hundred thirty feet below the surface, the water gathers in salt water brines. Chemetall, France's company, pumps the brine above ground into a series of ponds. In a process that lasts eighteen months, the desert sun evaporates out other salts. The beauty is that the sun does almost all the work. What's left is lithium brine, which is shipped to a nearby factory for processing into lithium carbonate powder and shipped to battery-makers, mostly in Asia.
Demand for lithium is about to soar. This fall, Mercedes will introduce into showrooms its first plug-in hybrid car. Its power will come from a lithium ion battery and the lithium alone in that battery will weigh twenty pounds. (The lithium in a cell phone weighs one-tenth of an ounce.) A half-dozen other carmakers have plans for their own plug-in models, powered by lithium. Chevy claims its new Volt will get at least 250 miles per gallon.
Three major companies dominate the world's lithium market. The metal itself is produced in only a half-dozen countries, including a small site in Nevada, but half the world's lithium comes from the Salar de Atacama. That's why Ron France thinks of this remote place in Chile as the best on earth.
So remember the Salar de Atacama. If plug-in hybrid cars catch on, the focus of America's energy policy could start to shift away from OPEC pipelines in the Middle East to lithium brine pools and Chile. And you never know when the name might come in handy as an answer on a "Jeopardy" re-run."
Lithium-A Mineral that can save the planet - Lithium
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCetmbHgl9I
Lithium - Atomic Number: 3
Symbol: Li
Atomic Weight: 6.941
Discovery: 1817, Arfvedson (Sweden)
Electron Configuration: [He]2s1
Word Origin Greek: lithos, stone
Properties: Lithium has a melting point of 180.54°C, boiling point of 1342°C, specific gravity of 0.534 (20°C), and valence of 1. It is the lightest of the metals, with a density approximately half that of water. Under ordinary conditions, lithium is the least dense of the solid elements. It has the highest specific heat of any solid element. Metallic lithium is silvery in appearance. It reacts with water, but not as vigorously as does sodium. Lithium imparts a crimson color to flame, although the metal itself burns a bright white. Lithium is corrosive and requires special handling. Elemental lithium is extremely flammable.
Uses: Lithium is used in heat transfer applications. It is used as an alloying agent, in synthesizing organic compounds, and is added to glasses and ceramics. Its high electrochemical potential makes it useful for battery anodes. Lithium chloride and lithium bromide are highly hygroscopic, so are used as drying agents. Lithium stearate is used as a high-temperature lubricant. Lithium has medical applications, as well.
Sources: Lithium does not occur free in nature. It is found in small amounts in practically all igneous rocks and in the waters of mineral springs. The minerals that contain lithium include lepidolite, petalite, amblygonite, and spodumene. Lithium metal is produced electrolytically from the fused chloride.
Element Classification: Alkali Metal
Density (g/cc): 0.534
Appearance: soft, silvery-white metal
Atomic Radius (pm): 155
Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 13.1
Covalent Radius (pm): 163
Ionic Radius: 68 (+1e)
Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): 3.489
Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 2.89
Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 148
Debye Temperature (°K): 400.00
Pauling Negativity Number: 0.98
First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 519.9
Oxidation States: 1
Lattice Structure: Body-Centered Cubic
Lattice Constant (Å): 3.490
Magnetic Ordering: paramagnetic
Electrical Resistivity (20°C): 92.8 nO·m
Thermal Conductivity (300 K): 84.8 W·m-1·K-1
Thermal Expansion (25°C): 46 µm·m-1·K-1
Speed of Sound (thin rod) (20°C): 6000 m/s
Young's Modulus: 4.9 GPa
Shear Modulus: 4.2 GPa
Bulk Modulus: 11 GPa
Mohs Hardness: 0.6
CAS Registry Number: 7439-93-2
References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Lange's Handbook of Chemistry (1952)
Is Lithium the New Oil?
Categories: Biofuel
Tags: lithium
That's the conclusion of a white paper released by Shanghai-based SinoLatin Capital, a merchant bank focused on cross-border transactions between China and Latin America. The explosive global demand for lithium will lead to a surge in acquisitions by Chinese firms in Latin America, it says.
Lithium is a key ingredient in a majority of consumer devices, including cell phones, laptops, cameras, and PDAs due to its ability to store energy. As the world's major economies race to develop better hybrid or electric vehicles to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change, countries with significant lithium deposits will become extremely important, asserts the report.
The white paper describes South America's "lithium triangle," Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, where 70 to 75 percent of the world's salt-lake lithium deposits are found.
http://www.goodcleantech.com/2010/03/is_lithium_the_new_oil.php
Is Lithium the new Oil? (Same title, different article)
Monday, 25 May 2009
New vehicle emission standards will likely be a boon for everything from aluminum to new plastics, but the producers of lithium -- a mineral used in batteries that power new generation vehicles -- could be the big winners.
But while the few public companies that mine lithium will likely see surging revenue, they will also face the pressure that comes with all booms -- making supply meet ever-tightening availability.
Companies that mine lithium should see a long-term boost to their business, analysts said, although there are questions about whether there is enough lithium for all customers.
And some energy experts see the irony in lithium batteries replacing carbon-burning gasoline, since they believe
exploiting lithium could be just as destructive to the environment as pollution.
Lithium is generally mined from rock, but it can also be found in deposits in brine ponds. It comes mostly from one region -- the Andes mountains of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, with some deposits in China. Chile's SQM is the world's largest producer, along with U.S. specialty chemical companies Rockwood Holdings Inc and FMC Corp.
There are enormous possibilities for profit.
"We are ready and able to expand production," said Tim McKenna, a Rockwood spokesman. "In fact, in the last 18 months, we completed capacity expansion of our Chile operations to keep pace with expected demand from the auto industry."
McKenna said the auto industry is not likely to bring lithium-powered cars to the wider market much before 2011, although the Mercedes S-class is expected to be the first lithium/hybrid car on the market late this year.
Rockwood, through its German subsidiary, Chemetall, produces lithium from brine lakes at Santiago Salar de Atacama in Chile and from a mine in Silver Peak, Nevada.
Chemetall has a 50 percent share of the global market for lithium and 30 percent for lithium carbonate, which is used for battery manufacture. It produced 27,000 tons of lithium last year and is increasing production to about 33,000 tons next year and 40,000 tons by 2015. Current global demand is 16,000 tons per year, or 84,000 tons of lithium carbonate.
WASHINGTON WEIGHS IN
This week, the Obama administration announced new vehicle emission standards that come into effect by 2016 and the rules are seen as favoring hybrid and electric vehicles.
Analyst David Begleiter, of Deutsche Bank North America, said lithium for use in all kinds of batteries -- auto, laptop and other consumer products -- accounted for about one-third of Rockwood's $3.4 billion revenue last year.
"There is no question (new emission regulations) will be very beneficial for Rockwood, although it depends on what happens with EHV (Electric Hybrid Vehicle) production increases and lithium carbonate pricing. But they all suggest material benefits for Rockwood."
http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/6848/49/
Lithium: the ‘new oil’
http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=aa823cc1-9e2f-4a4c-a4c8-8d1fc7437661
Contributor: Michael Diaz Jr. - Diaz Reus International Law Firm SUMMARY: China is the world's leading producer of consumer electronic appliances, including laptop computers, mobile phones and cameras. China also boasts the world's largest market for automobiles, including electric cars. So, how will these new appliances, large and small, be powered? In recent years, lithium has emerged as the "new oil," and today lithium is playing a central role in the switch to battery-powered alternatives to fossil fuels.
Lithium is the lightest metal and the least dense solid. It is typically extracted from beneath salt flats. Although China has a domestic reserve of lithium in its western Qinghai province and Tibet region, the soaring demand for consumer electronics, hybrid vehicles and electric cars has forced China to look beyond its borders for additional supplies. As a result, Chinese investors have cast their eyes towards Latin American countries where over 70% of the world's salt lake lithium deposits are found.
Is Lithium the 21st Century's Oil?
What is Lithium?
http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/462107-erik-bethel/55904-is-lithium-the-21st-century-s-oil-part-2
Lithium is considered the lightest solid element on earth. It is a highly reactive silvery metal and quickly tarnishes in air after just a few minutes. Due to its high reactivity, it only appears naturally in the form of compounds. The first lithium compound discovered was Petalite (lithium aluminum silicate) by a Brazilian chemist named José Bonifácio de Andrade e Silva in 1800. Several years later in 1817, pure lithium was extracted from Petalite by Johan August Arfwedson.
For a long period of time, lithium was considered not much more than a laboratory curiosity. But Over the years, lithium’s commercial applications have expanded tremendously. First, the pharmaceuticals industry discovered that lithium had properties that affected brain chemistry (i.e. mood stabilizers used to treat bi-polar disorder). And later, lithium was discovered to have ideal qualities for laptop, camera, and mobile phone batteries. In the coming years lithium will have a significant global impact as hybrid and electrical vehicles switch to lithium-ion technology.
Lithium occurs in a number of rock minerals, but the lithium used in batteries is commonly obtained from brine deposits (i.e. dry salt lakes).
Where is Lithium Found?
There are two major types of lithium deposits: (a) Spodumene - a hard silicate mineral (i.e. glass), and (2) Brine Salt Lake Deposits – dry salt lakes containing lithium chloride (in South America these are called “salares”). Today, most of the world’s lithium comes from dry salt lakes because these deposits are more economically viable for making Li-Ion batteries. These lakes result when pools of salt water containing lithium chloride (LiCl) accumulate in places lacking drainage. Over the centuries the water evaporates leaving a dense layer of salt behind. Underneath the salt crust is a layer of brine — salty groundwater with a high concentration of lithium chloride. It is this brine that is pumped out and converted to lithium.
An estimated 70-75% of the world’s salt lake lithium deposits are found in South America. Chile is the world’s largest producer — not only because Chile already has highly developed mining, transport and processing infrastructure, but also because its climate and geography is favorable for the optimal solar evaporation that is central to producing lithium. Neighboring Bolivia purportedly has the largest known reserves but it does not currently produce any lithium.
Until 1997, most lithium carbonate was made from Spodumene, a silicate that is compound of lithium and aluminum. In order to make lithium chloride from Spodumene, it must be first ground to a powder, calcinated at 1100 degrees Celsius, treated with sulfuric acid at 250 degrees C, put in a solvent to extract lithium sulfate, put in a separator to extract aluminum sulfate, and finally the lithium is precipitated out using soda ash. By comparison, the extraction from a salt lake is relatively simple and therefore considerably more economical and viable.
Is Spodumene irrelevant? No, because Spodumene still has characteristics that make it quite suitable for certain types of glass and high-temperature ceramics.
Commercial lithium deposits are found along high-altitude belts in the earth’s desert regions. Most of them are in South America where the salt lakes are known as salares. According to industry experts, South American salares in three countries alone (Bolivia, Chile and Argentina) hold 70-75% of the world’s global lithium reserves. Information on some of the major South American salares is provided below.
Argentina: Salar de Hombre Muerto – Owned by FMC Lithium (NYSE: FMC), a New York Stock Exchange-listed firm with a stock market value of US$4 billion. Hombre Muerto which literally translates as “Dead Man” is located in the remote north of Catamarca Province, 4,000 meters above sea level.
· Reserves: 360,000-400,000 tons at 0-30 meters of depth; 850,000 tons at 0-70 meters of depth with brine grades of 0.062%
· 100% of the production is for export. The product is transported by rail to Antofagasta (Chile) where it is exported
· Neighboring Salar de Olaroz is being developed by Australian-listed Orocobre (ASX: ORE). Bankable Feasibility study expected in 2010
· Salar de Rincon was being developed by Australian-listed Admiralty Resources (ASX: ADY) but they sold it to the Sentient Group, a natural resources-focused private equity fund
Bolivia: Salar de Uyuni - It is located in the Potosí and Oruro departments in SW Bolivia 3,650 meters high. It purportedly holds half of the world's reserves of lithium. There is currently no mining plant at the site and the Bolivian government doesn't want to allow exploitation by foreign corporations. Instead it intends to build its own pilot plant.
· Reserves: 5,400,000 tons (different estimates suggest 9 million tons)
· Comibol (Bolivian State Mining Company) is investing roughly US$6 million in a small plant near the village of Río Grande on the edge of Salar de Uyuni, where it hopes to begin Bolivia’s first industrial-scale effort to mine lithium
· In early February 2010 the Bolivian government created “Empresa Nacional de Evaporíticos,” a national entity responsible for the development of the lithium, boron, phosphates and potash
· Indigenous groups near the Salar de Uyuni are pushing the government to grant them total or partial ownership of the lithium in the area. The new Constitution that Bolivia just passed in January 2009 could grant the demands of the indigenous groups. One clause could give the indigenous group control over the natural resources in their territory, strengthening their ability to win concessions from the authorities and private companies, or even block mining projects. Yet none of this has discouraged foreign enterprises from attempting to gain access to Uyuni’s lithium.
· Assuming Uyuni began operating, it could take as long as 5 years before the lithium carbonate would hit the market
· Other than Uyuni there are many other much smaller salt lakes in Bolivia in which the government has little involvement. These opportunities are being developed by private mining companies such as New World Resources
Chile: Salar de Atacama - is the largest salt flat in Chile. It is located south of San Pedro de Atacama, is surrounded by mountains. The Salar de Atacama contains one of the largest and best quality reserves of lithium-brine in the world with high concentrations of potassium, lithium and boron. A US Geological survey estimate pegs the reserve base of the Salar de Atacama to be around 3MM tons while the Chilean State mining agency (CORFO) estimates it to be 4.5MM tons.
· There is some friction between the local communities and the mining companies over water rights. Mining already consumes 65% of the limited water in the Salar de Atacama region
· The largest lithium chloride producer in Chile is SQM, a US$10 billion stock market value firm listed on the New York Stock Exchange
· Environmentalists are also concerned about the unique flora and fauna of the region, including damage to the habitat of the famous pink flamingoes
· SQM only employs several hundred people at the evaporation plant. Therefore, an expansion in lithium production will not bring great employment benefits to the region, adding to the complexities of balancing growth and the environment
Where will the lithium come from?
As electricity starts to replace gasoline in America the country could very well be running the risk of replacing it's dependence on foreign oil for a dependence on foreign lithium or foreign produced lithium cells.
"We cannot allow ourselves to become dependent on foreign sources of lithium-ion battery cells (or lithium itself) as we have become dependent on petroleum from the Middle East," National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture's Attorney James Greenberger.
- According to the USGS, overall demand for lithium is growing at a rate of 4-5% per year
- Demand for lithium destined for battery usage is predicted to grow by 20% per year
- Over 60% of mobile phones and 90% of laptop computers feature Lithium Ion batteries
- The worldwide market for rechargeable lithium batteries is estimated to be worth over $4 billion/year
- The automotive market alone is projected to reach $337 million in 2012, and $1.6 billion in 2015
The U.S. contains approximately three percent of the world's Lithium reserves. Presently Chile provides 61 percent of lithium exports to the U.S. and Argentina is the source of 36 percent. Bolivia, at an estimated fifty percent of world supply, has by far, the largest lithium deposits of any country.
President Evo Morales has already nationalized the oil and natural gas industries and now a growing nationalist movement could prompt the head of state to do the same with the lithium fields. "The previous imperialist model of exploitation of our natural resources will never be repeated in Bolivia. Maybe there could be the possibility of foreigners accepted as minority partners, or better yet, as our clients, " head of lithium extraction Saul Villegas
http://www.aheadoftheherd.com/Newsle...try%20Risk.htm
Lithium is not traded publicly, instead it's sold directly to end users for a negotiated price per ton or pound of Lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). High demand and low supply has recently caused reported paid end user prices to reach US $6,600.00 ton.
But right now price isn't the issue, rather the issue is one of supply. Demand for lithium is increasing and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. anticipates that demand will increase fivefold to meet the needs of electric vehicles. At present, demand in North America is about 100,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent.
There's one unit of lithium in a cell phone battery, 3,000 units in a hybrid car and 7,000 units in an electric car; the numbers work out to 9 to 30 kilograms of lithium oxide per car battery. One of President Obama's goals is 1,000,000 built in America hybrid cars on American roads by 2015. The automotive industry needs a secure uninterrupted supply of lithium to ramp up its production of the next generation of hybrid electric vehicles using lithium-ion batteries.
CHILEAN LAW CHANGE COMING SOON!!
Chile privatized lithium deposits
August 1, 2011
After studying the idea for months, the Chilean government, through the Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco) announced that it has the option to tender the lithium deposits, mineral used both in the medical industry in the manufacture of batteries, among other things.
According to the website of Diario Financiero, the mineral is not concession, but to be used as a formula similar to oil operating contracts "which allowed transfer Magallanes areas to exploit hydrocarbon reserves."
The medium also states that the tests have been waiting Cochilco the market, because although lithium is a mineral with a small share compared to other, there is strong growth projections for the coming years.
If this initiative met or not rests with the Secretary of Mines, Paul Wagner. It is worth mentioning that private companies in the mining sector, according to some sources, are cautious about the initiative for the development of lithium, whose "boom", according to analyst Juan Carlos Zuleta Calderón, will emerge over the next two or three years . (With information from Diario Financiero / Oil Bolivia.com)
http://www.larepublica.pe/01-08-2011/chile-privatizaria-yacimientos-de-litio
Li Law is changing.. more proof.. Business: Chile exploit new mineral, Lithium
The main world copper producer, Chile has another metal in the Spotlight: lithium. It is estimated that the country has similar amounts of both minerals, and in the case of lithium, has almost 40% of world reserves, the exploitation of lithium in Chile has been very limited so far. The new president, Sebastián Piñera, wants to change that. His government announced it will launch an initiative to increase tenfold the country revenues generated by this mineral. According to his calculations, the metal has a potential of up to U.S. $ 3,000 million annually.
"Lithium has a nuclear potential, but have not yet developed the technology to allow this use," he said. "Moreover, the metal is considered an asset essential to the electronics industry and is key to the development of some emerging technologies such as hybrid cars (powered by electricity and internal combustion engine)," he said.
Being a rare mineral and with great potential, successive Chilean governments have limited their extraction, giving only two leases, a Swiss company and another local.
However, the growing demand for lithium for use in batteries, ceramics, medicines and lubricants led to the current government to reconsider this historic position and seek to explore the economic potential of the metal.
"Science has advanced the study of new applications for lithium, leaving behind the old fears, so we have the interest of promoting a reform of the Organic Constitutional Law on Mining Concessions in the sense of free exploration and open this market" said the minister Golborne.Image. Agencia EFE
Source: BBC News - www.1buenaidea.com
http://1buenaidea.com/negocios-chile-explotara-nuevo-mineral-el-litio.html
MMTE Management
Mr. William Lieberman
Chief Executive Officer and President
Mr. Lieberman is the former President of Trilliant Exploration Corp., a gold mining operation with assets in southern Ecuador and nearly 200 employees in full scale mining production with reserves of nearly 1.2 million oz. He worked closely and was intimately involved in all stages of financing and development of Trilliant Exploration and his efforts resulted in the closing of nearly $3 MM venture capital and private equity investment. Beginning in 2005, Mr. Lieberman served as Vice President of Resource Polymers, Inc of Toronto, Canada. Mr. Lieberman holds a Masters in Business Administration from Hult International Business School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. He is fluent in Spanish and has worked in Ecuador, Costa Rica, The Bahamas, Germany, the Czech Republic, Romania and Mexico as a former international journalist.
Samir Ahshrup
Secretary and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Ahshrup a native of Malaysia is experienced in energy, government and the telecommunications industries. Working internationally his expertise has lied in strategy formulation and program implementation through out Fortune 500 firms. He began his career with the consulting company Traderoof and in 2005 he joined the Computer Science Corporation, in which he led the consulting team that designed Maybank’s online cash management system in Malaysia. Mr. Ahshrup has also worked as a Product Manager at Siemens and has consulted at PA Consulting Group, in Boston, MA. Throughout 2008 and 2009, he was involved in writing and successfully prepared a case to secure over $70 Million in clean energy stimulus funds for the state of Massachusetts from the federal government. Mr. Ahshrup graduated with a Masters in Business Administration from the Hult International School of Business Administration with honors and holds an Engineering Degree from the University Putra Malaysian in Computer and Communications Systems. He is fluent in Malay, English, Indonesian, Hindi and Punjab.
Advisory Board Member Maurice J. Colson
EXECUTIVE PROFILE*
Maurice J. Colson B.A., M.B.A Return to CROWFLIGHT MINERALS INC
Ceo, President, Director, Member of Compensation Committee, Member of Audit Committee and Member of Corporate Governance Committee, Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd.
BACKGROUND*
Mr. Maurice J. Colson BA, MBA has been Director of Corporate Finance at SearchGold Resources Inc. since July 2011. Mr. Colson has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of UNOR Inc. since February 2010. Mr. Colson serves as the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Rovos Exploration Inc. He has been the Chief Executive Officer and President at Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd. since February 2010. He is actively involved in providing strategic counsel and assistance with financing to emerging private and public companies in Canada and to Canadian companies operating in China, Africa, and South America. Mr. Colson is actively involved in raising capital for junior companies and has participated in raising up to $500 mil ion in such financings. He serves as a Financial Consultant in the investment industry. He has more than 35 years experience in various executive levels of the investment and corporate finance industry with a particular focus on the resource sector. He has extensive experience in the investment banking industry. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lithium One Resources. He has extensive underwriting experience with a focus on several industries, including mining, oil and gas and the forestry industries and has been actively involved with several companies operating in mainland China. His investment industry experience includes institutional sales and sales management with several major Canadian investment dealers, both in Canada and London, England. Mr. Colson served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Lithium One Inc. from August 29, 2007 to July 2008. Mr. Colson served as Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary of Azia Corp. (formerly Visual Bible International Inc.,) from February 6, 2004 to April 8, 2005 and as its Principal Accounting Officer. Mr. Colson served as Interim Chief Financial Officer of Azia Corp. from May 22, 2004 to November 2004. He served as Vice President of First Marathon Securities Ltd., where he was one of the original Partners. He served as the Executive Vice President of Rampart Mercantile Inc., from March 2001 to November 2001. He served as the Vice President of Maison Placement Inc., since November 2001. He served as the Managing Director for major Canadian Investment Dealer in Europe. He served in various capacities, including Chairman of Brenark Securities Inc., from September 1997 to March 2001 and Executive Vice President from June 1994 to September 1997. He served as Executive Vice President of Dominick and Dominick Securities Inc., from September 1997 to March 2001. From January 2001 to December 2004, he served as an Associate of Power Budd LLP, Barristers & Solicitors. He was involved as an Original Partner in two Canadian investment dealers and was responsible for developing the Québec institutional market for several major investment dealers. Mr. Colson was involved with the financing of several Canadian and international mining companies and provided assistance as a Strategic Partner in the formation of several companies in mainland China. He was responsible for securing the financing, which are listed on Canadian exchanges. He participated in the sourcing, analysis and negotiation of many financings in a variety of industry sectors. He served as the Chairman of the Board at Azia Corp. from January 27, 2004 to November 2004. He served as the Chairman of Mag Copper Limited (formerly Fort Chimo Minerals Inc.) until August 2008. He served as Vice Chairman of Lithium One Inc. He has been Director of Loncor Resources Inc. since April 2011. He has been a Director of Lithium One Inc. since August 29, 2007. He serves as a Director of Lithium One Inc. since August 29, 2007. He serves as Director of Rovos Exploration Inc. He has been a Director of Apogee Silver Ltd (also known as Apogee Minerals Ltd). since March 2011. He has been Member of Non Executive Advisory Board at Mammoth Energy Group, Inc., since August 2011. He has been a Director of Sagittarius Capital Corporation since April 20, 2007, BRC DiamondCore Ltd. since August 2010 and China GoldCorp. Ltd. since November 2007. He has been Director of SearchGold Resources Inc., since July 2011 and Delrand Resources Limited since August 11, 2010. Mr. Colson has been a Director of Alexis Minerals Corp., since September 5, 2003. He has been a Director of Stetson Oil and Gas Ltd. since March 11, 2011. He has been a Director of UNOR Inc. and Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd. since February 3, 2010. He sits on the board of directors of several TSX and TSX Venture listed companies. He served as a Director of Canickel Mining, Ltd. (formerly Crowflight Minerals Inc.,) from October 12, 2004 to November 2010. He served as an Independent Director of Golden Tag Resources Ltd. since 2004. He served as a Director of Triumph Ventures Corp. from January 2010 to October 2011. He served as an Independent Director of Medifocus Inc., from February 14, 2006 to November 2008. He served on the board of public and private company and has been honored as a Freeman of the City of London. He served as Director of Cathay Forest Products Corp. until August 2005. He served as a Director of Pacific Vegas Global Strategies Inc. He served as a Director of Azia Corp. from June 12, 2002 to April 8, 2005. Mr. Colson served as a Director of Landmark Global Financial Corporation since 2001. He served as a Director of Vast Exploration Inc., since July 29, 2004. He served as a Director of Diadem Resources Ltd. until October 25, 2004. He was the resident Director in London, England for two of Canada's leading investment dealers. Mr. Colson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Loyola College in Montreal and a Masters of Business Administration from McGill University and did post graduate studies at Oxford University.
Read Full Background
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS*
275 Richmond Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5V 1X1
Canada
Phone: 416-368-0114
Fax: 416-368-0198
Board Members MEMBERSHIPS*
Former Director
Landmark Global Financial Corporation
Former Director
Diadem Resources Ltd.
Former Director
Cathay Forest Products Corp.
Former Director
Pacific Vegas Global Strategies Inc.
Former Chairman
Mag Copper Limited
Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Director and Member of Audit Committee
Rovos Exploration Inc.
2002-2005
Former Chief Executive Officer, President, Principal Accounting Officer, Secretary and Director
Azia Corp
2003-Present
Director, Chairman of Audit Committee, Member of Compensation Committee and Member of Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee
Alexis Minerals Corp.
2004-N/A
Former Independent Director
Golden Tag Resources Ltd.
2004-N/A
Former Director
Vast Exploration Inc.
2004-2010
Former Independent Director, Member of Audit Committee, Member of Compensation Committee and Member of Corporate Governance Committee
Canickel Mining, Ltd.
2006-2008
Former Director
Medifocus Inc.
2006-N/A
Former Independent Director and Member of Audit Committee
Medifocus Inc., Prior to reverse merger with Celsion (Canada) Limited
2007-Present
Director and Member of Audit Committee
Lithium One Inc.
2007-Present
Director and Member of Audit Committee
China Goldcorp Ltd.
2007-Present
Director and Member of Audit Committee
Sagittarius Capital Corporation
2010-Present
Non-Executive Director and Member of Audit Committee
Delrand Resources Limited
2010-Present
Ceo, President, Director, Member of Compensation Committee, Member of Audit Committee and Member of Corporate Governance Committee
Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd.
2010-2011
Former Director and Member of Audit Committee
Triumph Ventures Corp.
2011-Present
Non Executive Director, Member of Compensation Committee and Member of Audit Committee
Loncor Resources Inc.
2011-Present
Director
Apogee Silver Ltd.
2011-Present
Director and Member of Audit Committee
Stetson Oil and Gas Ltd.
2011-Present
Director of Corporate Finance and Director
SearchGold Resources Inc.
EDUCATION*
Master's Degree
University of Oxford
MBA
Concordia University
OTHER AFFILIATIONS*
Loncor Resources Inc.
Lithium One Inc.
Azia Corp
Landmark Global Financial Corporation
Diadem Resources Ltd.
Apogee Silver Ltd.
Golden Tag Resources Ltd.
Vast Exploration Inc.
Canickel Mining, Ltd.
Alexis Minerals Corp.
Delrand Resources Limited
Stetson Oil and Gas Ltd.
SearchGold Resources Inc.
Loyola College in Maryland
Concordia University
McGill University
University of Oxford
Cathay Forest Products Corp.
Pacific Vegas Global Strategies Inc.
Mag Copper Limited
China Goldcorp Ltd.
Medifocus Inc.
Medifocus Inc., Prior to reverse merger with Celsion (Canada) Limited
Mammoth Energy Group, Inc.
Sagittarius Capital Corporation
Rovos Exploration Inc.
Triumph Ventures Corp.
Mammoth Energy Group Inc.
545 Eighth Avenue Suite 401, New York NY 10018
TEL 212-613-5453 | FAX 212-501-2082 | EMAIL info@mammoth-energy.com
Stock Symbol: MMTE
Salar de Maricunga:
Acres: 8649 acres (3500 Hectares)
Concessions: 13
Location: Commune—Copiapo
The Salar is located approximately 230km from the international airport of Caldera, and approximately 250km from the mining port of Chañaral. All these facilities are connected to the Salar by paved roads that can be used throughout the year.
The Salar de Maricunga is the second largest basin in Region III and has a basin area of 3,045 km2. This basin is characterized by significant morphological, climatic and geological variations, which normally occurs with major river basins.
NI 43-101 WERE DONE 30 YEARS AGO.
During the 1980's, the "Comite de Sales Mixtas" CORFO (State Agency of the Republic of Chile) carried out a study in order to determine the potential in inorganic salts of commercial interest of the Salars. After performing a sampling and chemical analysis program, CORFO the following mineral resource at the Salar de Maricunga:
224,300 tonnes of Li; or
600,000 tonnes of Recoverable Li2CO3 (utilizing a 50% recovery factor); or
30,000 tonnes per year of Lithium Carbonate for 20 years
3,274,000 tonnes of KCl (potash); or
2,300,000 tonnes of KCl (utilizing a 70% recovery factor); or
115,000 tonnes per year of KCl for 20 years or 96% or Alfredo Requirements
Salar del Laco:
Acres: 2471 acres (1000 Hectares)
Concessions: 6
Location: Commune—San Pedro de Atacama
The Salar de laco is approximately 10 miles from the border of Argentina and approximately fifty miles away from the Salar de Atacama, Chile’s largest mined lithium reserve. The Salar de laco has similar geology to the Salar de Atacama where lithium concentrations average between 500 to 750 ppm lithium
Salar de Pujsa:
Acres: 4695 acres (1900 Hectares)
Concessions: 7
Location: Commune—San Pedro de Atacama
The Salar de Pujsa is located in the north east corner of Chile, close to the borders of both Boliva and Argentina, approximately thirty-five miles away from the Salar de Atacama, Chile’s largest mined lithium reserve.
The Salar de Pujsa has similar geology to the Salar de Atacama where lithium concentrations average between 500 to 750 ppm lithium and 9000-10000 ppm for potassium and is the largest lithium brine mined in the world.
Salar de Maricunga:
Click to view composition of concentration levels
Acres: 8649 acres (3500 Hectares)
Concessions: 13
Location: Commune—Copiapo
Salar del Laco:
Click to view composition of concentration levels
Acres: 2471 acres (1000 Hectares)
Concessions: 6
Location: Commune—San Pedro de Atacama
Salar de Pujsa:
Click to view composition of concentration levels
Acres: 4695 acres (1900 Hectares)
Concessions: 7
Location: Commune—San Pedro de Atacama
Press Release Source: Mammoth Energy Group, Inc. On Wednesday September 28, 2011, 9:15 am EDT
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -09/28/11)- Mammoth Energy Group Inc. (Pinksheets: MMTE.PK - News), a lithium and alternative energy mining company, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Compania Lithium Investments Limitada of Chile has acquired five additional concessions for a total of 2471 acres (1000 hectares) of lithium concessions located at Laguna Lagunilla situated in the Pica commune.
Mammoth Energy Group's Compania Lithium Investments Limitada has already acquired an initial thirteen lithium concessions for a total of 8649 acres (3500 Hectares) in the southern section of the Salar de Maricunga, seven concessions for a total of 4695 acres (1900 hectares) in the Salar de Pujsa, 2471 acres (1000 hectares) in the Salar del Laco for a total of over 18,000 combined acres throughout Chile. The company is currently in acquisition mode and Compania Lithium Investments Limitada was created to acquire, develop and explore lithium and mining assets in Chile on behalf of Mammoth Energy Group Inc.
"We are currently finalizing additional contracts and are making the steps needed to improve all aspects of our operations for our shareholders," said William Lieberman, President of Mammoth Energy Group.
RECENT HEADLINES FOR MMTE
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=MMTE.PK&t=2011-09-28T09:15:00-04:00
Atacama Desert
The Salar de Atacama or Atacama Salt Flats, located 55 kilometers north of the popular tourist town of San Pedro is not only the largest in the world; it is also where 40% of the world’s reserves are found of a mineral that is key for technological development: lithium. The reason is that whereas before, batteries were fabricated with nickel cadmium, today lithium has positioned itself as a much cleaner, more efficient alternative.
With the explosive growth of the cell phone and portable computer markets, the demand for lithium has also grown exponentially. Despite the fact that it is not yet being traded in financial markets as other raw materials, lithium carbonate (the chemical salt derived from lithium that is most actively traded in world markets) doubled its price in 2009, moving up to US$7,000/ton.
“Chile, and particularly Salar de Atacama, has the largest reserves of lithium in the world, estimated at 40 million tons of lithium carbonate out of a total of 100 million tons worldwide,” explained Andrés Yaksic, Marketing Manager of SQM, a Chilean company producing nearly 40,000 tons of the mineral in northern Chile.
Chile’s Market Edge
However, aside from having this resource, Chile has a long mining tradition (the country is the world’s number one copper producer), as well as the infrastructure needed to develop the lithium industry. Yaksic assured us that thanks to Atacama’s climatic conditions, solar energy is the primary energy source for the process of refining lithium concentrate, making its production a much more sustainable process.
“Lithium is used most of all for manufacturing rechargeable batteries for portable devices such as laptops, cell phones and iPods – 27% of production is aimed at this industry – and also for the process of glass production,” Yaksic explained.
In recent years, it has been estimated that lithium production for battery manufacturers has been growing by 20% yearly, with Mitsubishi forecasting ratcheted demand levels for the next 10 years. Moreover, according to the US Department of the Interior’s US Minerals Yearbook, lithium’s natural properties make it a more attractive material for batteries. “Lithium batteries have enormous potential for sustained growth,” the study points out. “Despite the fact that there are still some aspects that need to be resolved, new technologies involving lithium are currently being developed. Its use could generate a tremendous growth in demand.”
Indeed, car manufacturers such as Toyota, GM, Mercedes Benz and BMW are already using lithium in their hybrid models, while other companies such as Volkswagen, Nissan-Renault and Mitsubishi itself have announced they will also implement it in their vehicles.
CBS News Report on Lithium 2010 - Visit to Chile, Argentina, Bolivia (Atacama Desert)
"Richest deposits of ideal conditions" per video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ59WHzU9Lc
Lithium in Chile - EXCELLENT article on Atacama Desert
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-5298671-500803.html
(CBS)Believe it or not, there's a place on the planet that sees one inch of rain every thirteen years. It's a desert in Chile called Salar de Atacama. It's the driest place on earth – a fact even introduced once on "Jeopardy" -- but for producers of lithium, this desert is one of the richest. Above ground is a vast wasteland of dried clumps of clay, some the size of a child's bicycle. Nothing grows out here. Below ground, though, is a different story.
"This is the best place on earth," Ron France told me in the middle of the desert. Neither of us could have traveled to many places that were more remote. France is president of Chemetall, an American company that produces lithium. Lithium is the world's lightest metal, and the energy source in the batteries of cell phones, laptops and Blackberrys.
Snow melts off the nearby Andes mountains and is trapped underground is this closed basin. One-hundred thirty feet below the surface, the water gathers in salt water brines. Chemetall, France's company, pumps the brine above ground into a series of ponds. In a process that lasts eighteen months, the desert sun evaporates out other salts. The beauty is that the sun does almost all the work. What's left is lithium brine, which is shipped to a nearby factory for processing into lithium carbonate powder and shipped to battery-makers, mostly in Asia.
Demand for lithium is about to soar. This fall, Mercedes will introduce into showrooms its first plug-in hybrid car. Its power will come from a lithium ion battery and the lithium alone in that battery will weigh twenty pounds. (The lithium in a cell phone weighs one-tenth of an ounce.) A half-dozen other carmakers have plans for their own plug-in models, powered by lithium. Chevy claims its new Volt will get at least 250 miles per gallon.
Three major companies dominate the world's lithium market. The metal itself is produced in only a half-dozen countries, including a small site in Nevada, but half the world's lithium comes from the Salar de Atacama. That's why Ron France thinks of this remote place in Chile as the best on earth.
So remember the Salar de Atacama. If plug-in hybrid cars catch on, the focus of America's energy policy could start to shift away from OPEC pipelines in the Middle East to lithium brine pools and Chile. And you never know when the name might come in handy as an answer on a "Jeopardy" re-run."
Lithium-A Mineral that can save the planet - Lithium
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCetmbHgl9I
Lithium - Atomic Number: 3
Symbol: Li
Atomic Weight: 6.941
Discovery: 1817, Arfvedson (Sweden)
Electron Configuration: [He]2s1
Word Origin Greek: lithos, stone
Properties: Lithium has a melting point of 180.54°C, boiling point of 1342°C, specific gravity of 0.534 (20°C), and valence of 1. It is the lightest of the metals, with a density approximately half that of water. Under ordinary conditions, lithium is the least dense of the solid elements. It has the highest specific heat of any solid element. Metallic lithium is silvery in appearance. It reacts with water, but not as vigorously as does sodium. Lithium imparts a crimson color to flame, although the metal itself burns a bright white. Lithium is corrosive and requires special handling. Elemental lithium is extremely flammable.
Uses: Lithium is used in heat transfer applications. It is used as an alloying agent, in synthesizing organic compounds, and is added to glasses and ceramics. Its high electrochemical potential makes it useful for battery anodes. Lithium chloride and lithium bromide are highly hygroscopic, so are used as drying agents. Lithium stearate is used as a high-temperature lubricant. Lithium has medical applications, as well.
Sources: Lithium does not occur free in nature. It is found in small amounts in practically all igneous rocks and in the waters of mineral springs. The minerals that contain lithium include lepidolite, petalite, amblygonite, and spodumene. Lithium metal is produced electrolytically from the fused chloride.
Element Classification: Alkali Metal
Density (g/cc): 0.534
Appearance: soft, silvery-white metal
Atomic Radius (pm): 155
Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 13.1
Covalent Radius (pm): 163
Ionic Radius: 68 (+1e)
Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): 3.489
Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 2.89
Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 148
Debye Temperature (°K): 400.00
Pauling Negativity Number: 0.98
First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 519.9
Oxidation States: 1
Lattice Structure: Body-Centered Cubic
Lattice Constant (Å): 3.490
Magnetic Ordering: paramagnetic
Electrical Resistivity (20°C): 92.8 nO·m
Thermal Conductivity (300 K): 84.8 W·m-1·K-1
Thermal Expansion (25°C): 46 µm·m-1·K-1
Speed of Sound (thin rod) (20°C): 6000 m/s
Young's Modulus: 4.9 GPa
Shear Modulus: 4.2 GPa
Bulk Modulus: 11 GPa
Mohs Hardness: 0.6
CAS Registry Number: 7439-93-2
References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Lange's Handbook of Chemistry (1952)
Is Lithium the New Oil?
Categories: Biofuel
Tags: lithium
That's the conclusion of a white paper released by Shanghai-based SinoLatin Capital, a merchant bank focused on cross-border transactions between China and Latin America. The explosive global demand for lithium will lead to a surge in acquisitions by Chinese firms in Latin America, it says.
Lithium is a key ingredient in a majority of consumer devices, including cell phones, laptops, cameras, and PDAs due to its ability to store energy. As the world's major economies race to develop better hybrid or electric vehicles to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change, countries with significant lithium deposits will become extremely important, asserts the report.
The white paper describes South America's "lithium triangle," Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, where 70 to 75 percent of the world's salt-lake lithium deposits are found.
http://www.goodcleantech.com/2010/03/is_lithium_the_new_oil.php
Is Lithium the new Oil? (Same title, different article)
Monday, 25 May 2009
New vehicle emission standards will likely be a boon for everything from aluminum to new plastics, but the producers of lithium -- a mineral used in batteries that power new generation vehicles -- could be the big winners.
But while the few public companies that mine lithium will likely see surging revenue, they will also face the pressure that comes with all booms -- making supply meet ever-tightening availability.
Companies that mine lithium should see a long-term boost to their business, analysts said, although there are questions about whether there is enough lithium for all customers.
And some energy experts see the irony in lithium batteries replacing carbon-burning gasoline, since they believe
exploiting lithium could be just as destructive to the environment as pollution.
Lithium is generally mined from rock, but it can also be found in deposits in brine ponds. It comes mostly from one region -- the Andes mountains of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, with some deposits in China. Chile's SQM is the world's largest producer, along with U.S. specialty chemical companies Rockwood Holdings Inc and FMC Corp.
There are enormous possibilities for profit.
"We are ready and able to expand production," said Tim McKenna, a Rockwood spokesman. "In fact, in the last 18 months, we completed capacity expansion of our Chile operations to keep pace with expected demand from the auto industry."
McKenna said the auto industry is not likely to bring lithium-powered cars to the wider market much before 2011, although the Mercedes S-class is expected to be the first lithium/hybrid car on the market late this year.
Rockwood, through its German subsidiary, Chemetall, produces lithium from brine lakes at Santiago Salar de Atacama in Chile and from a mine in Silver Peak, Nevada.
Chemetall has a 50 percent share of the global market for lithium and 30 percent for lithium carbonate, which is used for battery manufacture. It produced 27,000 tons of lithium last year and is increasing production to about 33,000 tons next year and 40,000 tons by 2015. Current global demand is 16,000 tons per year, or 84,000 tons of lithium carbonate.
WASHINGTON WEIGHS IN
This week, the Obama administration announced new vehicle emission standards that come into effect by 2016 and the rules are seen as favoring hybrid and electric vehicles.
Analyst David Begleiter, of Deutsche Bank North America, said lithium for use in all kinds of batteries -- auto, laptop and other consumer products -- accounted for about one-third of Rockwood's $3.4 billion revenue last year.
"There is no question (new emission regulations) will be very beneficial for Rockwood, although it depends on what happens with EHV (Electric Hybrid Vehicle) production increases and lithium carbonate pricing. But they all suggest material benefits for Rockwood."
http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/6848/49/
Lithium: the ‘new oil’
http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=aa823cc1-9e2f-4a4c-a4c8-8d1fc7437661
Contributor: Michael Diaz Jr. - Diaz Reus International Law Firm SUMMARY: China is the world's leading producer of consumer electronic appliances, including laptop computers, mobile phones and cameras. China also boasts the world's largest market for automobiles, including electric cars. So, how will these new appliances, large and small, be powered? In recent years, lithium has emerged as the "new oil," and today lithium is playing a central role in the switch to battery-powered alternatives to fossil fuels.
Lithium is the lightest metal and the least dense solid. It is typically extracted from beneath salt flats. Although China has a domestic reserve of lithium in its western Qinghai province and Tibet region, the soaring demand for consumer electronics, hybrid vehicles and electric cars has forced China to look beyond its borders for additional supplies. As a result, Chinese investors have cast their eyes towards Latin American countries where over 70% of the world's salt lake lithium deposits are found.
Is Lithium the 21st Century's Oil?
What is Lithium?
http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/462107-erik-bethel/55904-is-lithium-the-21st-century-s-oil-part-2
Lithium is considered the lightest solid element on earth. It is a highly reactive silvery metal and quickly tarnishes in air after just a few minutes. Due to its high reactivity, it only appears naturally in the form of compounds. The first lithium compound discovered was Petalite (lithium aluminum silicate) by a Brazilian chemist named José Bonifácio de Andrade e Silva in 1800. Several years later in 1817, pure lithium was extracted from Petalite by Johan August Arfwedson.
For a long period of time, lithium was considered not much more than a laboratory curiosity. But Over the years, lithium’s commercial applications have expanded tremendously. First, the pharmaceuticals industry discovered that lithium had properties that affected brain chemistry (i.e. mood stabilizers used to treat bi-polar disorder). And later, lithium was discovered to have ideal qualities for laptop, camera, and mobile phone batteries. In the coming years lithium will have a significant global impact as hybrid and electrical vehicles switch to lithium-ion technology.
Lithium occurs in a number of rock minerals, but the lithium used in batteries is commonly obtained from brine deposits (i.e. dry salt lakes).
Where is Lithium Found?
There are two major types of lithium deposits: (a) Spodumene - a hard silicate mineral (i.e. glass), and (2) Brine Salt Lake Deposits – dry salt lakes containing lithium chloride (in South America these are called “salares”). Today, most of the world’s lithium comes from dry salt lakes because these deposits are more economically viable for making Li-Ion batteries. These lakes result when pools of salt water containing lithium chloride (LiCl) accumulate in places lacking drainage. Over the centuries the water evaporates leaving a dense layer of salt behind. Underneath the salt crust is a layer of brine — salty groundwater with a high concentration of lithium chloride. It is this brine that is pumped out and converted to lithium.
An estimated 70-75% of the world’s salt lake lithium deposits are found in South America. Chile is the world’s largest producer — not only because Chile already has highly developed mining, transport and processing infrastructure, but also because its climate and geography is favorable for the optimal solar evaporation that is central to producing lithium. Neighboring Bolivia purportedly has the largest known reserves but it does not currently produce any lithium.
Until 1997, most lithium carbonate was made from Spodumene, a silicate that is compound of lithium and aluminum. In order to make lithium chloride from Spodumene, it must be first ground to a powder, calcinated at 1100 degrees Celsius, treated with sulfuric acid at 250 degrees C, put in a solvent to extract lithium sulfate, put in a separator to extract aluminum sulfate, and finally the lithium is precipitated out using soda ash. By comparison, the extraction from a salt lake is relatively simple and therefore considerably more economical and viable.
Is Spodumene irrelevant? No, because Spodumene still has characteristics that make it quite suitable for certain types of glass and high-temperature ceramics.
Commercial lithium deposits are found along high-altitude belts in the earth’s desert regions. Most of them are in South America where the salt lakes are known as salares. According to industry experts, South American salares in three countries alone (Bolivia, Chile and Argentina) hold 70-75% of the world’s global lithium reserves. Information on some of the major South American salares is provided below.
Argentina: Salar de Hombre Muerto – Owned by FMC Lithium (NYSE: FMC), a New York Stock Exchange-listed firm with a stock market value of US$4 billion. Hombre Muerto which literally translates as “Dead Man” is located in the remote north of Catamarca Province, 4,000 meters above sea level.
· Reserves: 360,000-400,000 tons at 0-30 meters of depth; 850,000 tons at 0-70 meters of depth with brine grades of 0.062%
· 100% of the production is for export. The product is transported by rail to Antofagasta (Chile) where it is exported
· Neighboring Salar de Olaroz is being developed by Australian-listed Orocobre (ASX: ORE). Bankable Feasibility study expected in 2010
· Salar de Rincon was being developed by Australian-listed Admiralty Resources (ASX: ADY) but they sold it to the Sentient Group, a natural resources-focused private equity fund
Bolivia: Salar de Uyuni - It is located in the Potosí and Oruro departments in SW Bolivia 3,650 meters high. It purportedly holds half of the world's reserves of lithium. There is currently no mining plant at the site and the Bolivian government doesn't want to allow exploitation by foreign corporations. Instead it intends to build its own pilot plant.
· Reserves: 5,400,000 tons (different estimates suggest 9 million tons)
· Comibol (Bolivian State Mining Company) is investing roughly US$6 million in a small plant near the village of Río Grande on the edge of Salar de Uyuni, where it hopes to begin Bolivia’s first industrial-scale effort to mine lithium
· In early February 2010 the Bolivian government created “Empresa Nacional de Evaporíticos,” a national entity responsible for the development of the lithium, boron, phosphates and potash
· Indigenous groups near the Salar de Uyuni are pushing the government to grant them total or partial ownership of the lithium in the area. The new Constitution that Bolivia just passed in January 2009 could grant the demands of the indigenous groups. One clause could give the indigenous group control over the natural resources in their territory, strengthening their ability to win concessions from the authorities and private companies, or even block mining projects. Yet none of this has discouraged foreign enterprises from attempting to gain access to Uyuni’s lithium.
· Assuming Uyuni began operating, it could take as long as 5 years before the lithium carbonate would hit the market
· Other than Uyuni there are many other much smaller salt lakes in Bolivia in which the government has little involvement. These opportunities are being developed by private mining companies such as New World Resources
Chile: Salar de Atacama - is the largest salt flat in Chile. It is located south of San Pedro de Atacama, is surrounded by mountains. The Salar de Atacama contains one of the largest and best quality reserves of lithium-brine in the world with high concentrations of potassium, lithium and boron. A US Geological survey estimate pegs the reserve base of the Salar de Atacama to be around 3MM tons while the Chilean State mining agency (CORFO) estimates it to be 4.5MM tons.
· There is some friction between the local communities and the mining companies over water rights. Mining already consumes 65% of the limited water in the Salar de Atacama region
· The largest lithium chloride producer in Chile is SQM, a US$10 billion stock market value firm listed on the New York Stock Exchange
· Environmentalists are also concerned about the unique flora and fauna of the region, including damage to the habitat of the famous pink flamingoes
· SQM only employs several hundred people at the evaporation plant. Therefore, an expansion in lithium production will not bring great employment benefits to the region, adding to the complexities of balancing growth and the environment
Where will the lithium come from?
As electricity starts to replace gasoline in America the country could very well be running the risk of replacing it's dependence on foreign oil for a dependence on foreign lithium or foreign produced lithium cells.
"We cannot allow ourselves to become dependent on foreign sources of lithium-ion battery cells (or lithium itself) as we have become dependent on petroleum from the Middle East," National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture's Attorney James Greenberger.
- According to the USGS, overall demand for lithium is growing at a rate of 4-5% per year
- Demand for lithium destined for battery usage is predicted to grow by 20% per year
- Over 60% of mobile phones and 90% of laptop computers feature Lithium Ion batteries
- The worldwide market for rechargeable lithium batteries is estimated to be worth over $4 billion/year
- The automotive market alone is projected to reach $337 million in 2012, and $1.6 billion in 2015
The U.S. contains approximately three percent of the world's Lithium reserves. Presently Chile provides 61 percent of lithium exports to the U.S. and Argentina is the source of 36 percent. Bolivia, at an estimated fifty percent of world supply, has by far, the largest lithium deposits of any country.
President Evo Morales has already nationalized the oil and natural gas industries and now a growing nationalist movement could prompt the head of state to do the same with the lithium fields. "The previous imperialist model of exploitation of our natural resources will never be repeated in Bolivia. Maybe there could be the possibility of foreigners accepted as minority partners, or better yet, as our clients, " head of lithium extraction Saul Villegas
http://www.aheadoftheherd.com/Newsle...try%20Risk.htm
Lithium is not traded publicly, instead it's sold directly to end users for a negotiated price per ton or pound of Lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). High demand and low supply has recently caused reported paid end user prices to reach US $6,600.00 ton.
But right now price isn't the issue, rather the issue is one of supply. Demand for lithium is increasing and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. anticipates that demand will increase fivefold to meet the needs of electric vehicles. At present, demand in North America is about 100,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent.
There's one unit of lithium in a cell phone battery, 3,000 units in a hybrid car and 7,000 units in an electric car; the numbers work out to 9 to 30 kilograms of lithium oxide per car battery. One of President Obama's goals is 1,000,000 built in America hybrid cars on American roads by 2015. The automotive industry needs a secure uninterrupted supply of lithium to ramp up its production of the next generation of hybrid electric vehicles using lithium-ion batteries.
CHILEAN LAW CHANGE COMING SOON!!
Chile privatized lithium deposits
August 1, 2011
After studying the idea for months, the Chilean government, through the Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco) announced that it has the option to tender the lithium deposits, mineral used both in the medical industry in the manufacture of batteries, among other things.
According to the website of Diario Financiero, the mineral is not concession, but to be used as a formula similar to oil operating contracts "which allowed transfer Magallanes areas to exploit hydrocarbon reserves."
The medium also states that the tests have been waiting Cochilco the market, because although lithium is a mineral with a small share compared to other, there is strong growth projections for the coming years.
If this initiative met or not rests with the Secretary of Mines, Paul Wagner. It is worth mentioning that private companies in the mining sector, according to some sources, are cautious about the initiative for the development of lithium, whose "boom", according to analyst Juan Carlos Zuleta Calderón, will emerge over the next two or three years . (With information from Diario Financiero / Oil Bolivia.com)
http://www.larepublica.pe/01-08-2011/chile-privatizaria-yacimientos-de-litio
Li Law is changing.. more proof.. Business: Chile exploit new mineral, Lithium
The main world copper producer, Chile has another metal in the Spotlight: lithium. It is estimated that the country has similar amounts of both minerals, and in the case of lithium, has almost 40% of world reserves, the exploitation of lithium in Chile has been very limited so far. The new president, Sebastián Piñera, wants to change that. His government announced it will launch an initiative to increase tenfold the country revenues generated by this mineral. According to his calculations, the metal has a potential of up to U.S. $ 3,000 million annually.
"Lithium has a nuclear potential, but have not yet developed the technology to allow this use," he said. "Moreover, the metal is considered an asset essential to the electronics industry and is key to the development of some emerging technologies such as hybrid cars (powered by electricity and internal combustion engine)," he said.
Being a rare mineral and with great potential, successive Chilean governments have limited their extraction, giving only two leases, a Swiss company and another local.
However, the growing demand for lithium for use in batteries, ceramics, medicines and lubricants led to the current government to reconsider this historic position and seek to explore the economic potential of the metal.
"Science has advanced the study of new applications for lithium, leaving behind the old fears, so we have the interest of promoting a reform of the Organic Constitutional Law on Mining Concessions in the sense of free exploration and open this market" said the minister Golborne.Image. Agencia EFE
Source: BBC News - www.1buenaidea.com
http://1buenaidea.com/negocios-chile-explotara-nuevo-mineral-el-litio.html
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