Once, not so many years ago, it was thought that automation would lead to more leisure time and more time to pursue education and other intellectual endeavours. But this has not happened. Automation has benefitted the owners of the technology and their financiers, but not those who have been replaced.…
The chart below is from a great article by Alberto Gallo of Algebris Investments, read it here. So, Australia takes first place, but I would rather we were not on the list at all. But to listen to the real estate industry here in Sydney, there is no bubble in…
Zircon Zircon (zirconium silicate – ZrSiO4) almost always has Zr replaced by rare earth elements. Hafnium is most common, often present in significant quantities, up to 5%. Uranium, thorium and yttrium also occur in the zircon lattice. When uranium and thorium are included in the lattice at the time of…
Rutile has a theoretical TiO2 content of 100%, however impurities such as iron typically reduce this to 93-97%. TiO2 can also exist as anatase, which has a different crystal structure to rutile. Anatase is primarily used in paper rather than paints and plastics. Anatase is able to convert light into an electrical…
Ilmenite (FeTiO3, Mn or Mg may substitute for Fe) is the main mineral mined for titanium. In its purer form it contains 55-65% titanium dioxide. It is often lower grade than this, due to impurities. Impurities in ilmenite occur in two forms; grains, such as monazite, within the mineral lattice;…
Part I was an introduction to conglomerate-hosted gold in the Pilbara, which included a brief comment on Novo Resources, by far the biggest player in the space. Part II is a brief commentary on some ASX listed companies with conglomerate gold interests in the Pilbara. The companies range from those…