Manganese

Where do all of James Bond's gadgets come from? A geologist tells the raw truth

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, December 30, 2023

Laser watches, fingerprint guns, explosives and, of course, over-equipped cars: the list of gadgets flaunted by James Bond is as bewildering as the mind of their inventor, Q.

Key Points: 
  • Laser watches, fingerprint guns, explosives and, of course, over-equipped cars: the list of gadgets flaunted by James Bond is as bewildering as the mind of their inventor, Q.
  • While some of these gadgets actually exist (laser, fingerprint recognition, back reactor), others, as we shall see, are more fanciful.

The fast, inconspicuous cars of the world’s most famous secret agent


In 1964’s Goldfinger, James Bond (Sean Connery) has to give up his Bentley for an Aston Martin DB5 modified by Q (the unforgettable Desmond Llewelyn). This is the first of eight appearances of a car that will go on to become inseparable from 007.
The auto is a good example of how products have become more complex and incorporated a greater diversity of raw materials over time.

  • The DB5 contains an array of minerals, starting with aluminium, a metal known to make cars lighter.
  • The body of the DB5 is made of aluminium and magnesium alloy plates resting on a tubular steel structure.
  • More recently, in Dying Can Wait (2021), the Aston Martin Valhalla is a plug-in hybrid, but James Bond has not yet gone all-electric.

Golden guns that would melt in real life

  • Another cult item is the Walther PPK, the German pistol used by 007 in many of the Bond films.
  • Limited to one shot, the pistol fires bullets of 4.2 mm calibre, weighs 30 g and is made of 23-carat gold with traces of nickel.
  • In jewellery, gold is often combined with silver, copper or zinc to make it wearable.
  • On 4 December 2023, one kilogram of gold was trading at around €66,000, an all-time record (World Gold Council).

James Bond and his high-tech enemies


The saga has also always been about surprising the general public with cutting-edge technology, which may be little known at the time of the film’s release. What better example than the laser, which, should we be reminded, stands short for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The saga likes to beam it as often as possible, alternatively adding it to pistols, watches, cars, and satellites.

  • In Goldfinger (1964), film director Guy Hamilton chooses to bypass Ian Fleming’s novel of the same name by threatening James Bond not with a chainsaw, but a laser.
  • For one, telemetry: from the Greek “tel” (“remote”) and “metros” (“to measure”), this practice consists in remotely measuring physical and electrical data.
  • Physicist Théodore Maiman introduced the first operational laser in the real world in May 1960 (American Physical Society), right before James Bond.


Crystalline lasers: made of silica glass (from very pure quartz) or synthetic ruby or sapphire crystals (aluminium oxide doped with titanium, chromium or rare earths : neodymium, ytterbium, praseodymium, erbium or thulium) ;
Fibre lasers : composed of optical fibres based on silica (derived from ultra-pure quartz) and doped with rare earths (metals extracted mainly from minerals such as bastnaesite, monazite or xenotime) ;
Gas lasers: using helium (extracted from natural gas deposits) and neon (extracted from atmospheric air gases) or CO2 ;
Organic dye lasers.
The red light beam in Goldfinger was emitted from a laser (probably ruby) whose brightness was amplified by special effects. However, the destructive nature of the laser is pure fiction. During filming, an operator used an acetylene torch under the pre-cut table even though Sean Connery was lying on it !

  • It’s a stainless and corrosion-resistant steel that limits the risk of allergic reactions when it comes into contact with the skin.
  • James Bond is like many other citizens, he consumes mineral raw materials on a daily basis.


Nicolas Charles ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d'une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n'a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

Euro Manganese Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2023 Financial Results and Project Developments

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 14, 2023

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V and ASX: EMN; OTCQX: EUMNF; Frankfurt: E06) (the "Company" or "EMN") is pleased to announce key developments during the fourth fiscal quarter 2023 and to date.

Key Points: 
  • VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V and ASX: EMN; OTCQX: EUMNF; Frankfurt: E06) (the "Company" or "EMN") is pleased to announce key developments during the fourth fiscal quarter 2023 and to date.
  • The Company has now filed its September 30, 2023 year-end Financial Statements, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, and other financial reports.
  • US$100 million non-dilutive funding package announced to advance development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project (the "Project"); US$20 million received on closing.
  • The Chvaletice Project received high-level inter-governmental support during the fourth calendar quarter by being named as a project under the Minerals Security Partnership.

Euro Manganese Confirms Fourth Fiscal Quarter and Year-End 2023 Release Date and Conference Call Details

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 7, 2023

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V and ASX: EMN; OTCQX: EUMNF; Frankfurt: E06) (the "Company") will file its Fourth Fiscal Quarter and Year-End 2023 financial reports after TSX.V market close on Thursday, December 14, 2023 (prior to ASX market open on Friday, December 15, 2023).

Key Points: 
  • VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V and ASX: EMN; OTCQX: EUMNF; Frankfurt: E06) (the "Company") will file its Fourth Fiscal Quarter and Year-End 2023 financial reports after TSX.V market close on Thursday, December 14, 2023 (prior to ASX market open on Friday, December 15, 2023).
  • Euro Manganese will host its fiscal Q4 and Year-End conference calls in early January as per below.
  • Calls will be hosted on Zoom, with the ability to dial-in or join via web link.
  • Replays and transcripts of both calls will be available on Euro Manganese’s website: www.mn25.ca .

RecycLiCo and Nanoramic Announce Key Advancements in Sustainable Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Collaboration

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 4, 2023

SURREY, British Columbia and WAKEFIELD, Mass., Dec. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following the recent announcement of strategic collaboration, with the goal of optimizing the complete life cycle of lithium-ion batteries, RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc. (“RecycLiCo”), TSX.V: AMY, OTCQB: AMYZF, FSE: ID4, and Nanoramic Laboratories (“Nanoramic”) are pleased to disclose successful results from their lithium-ion battery cathode recycling collaboration.

Key Points: 
  • SURREY, British Columbia and WAKEFIELD, Mass., Dec. 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following the recent announcement of strategic collaboration, with the goal of optimizing the complete life cycle of lithium-ion batteries, RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc. (“RecycLiCo”), TSX.V: AMY, OTCQB: AMYZF, FSE: ID4, and Nanoramic Laboratories (“Nanoramic”) are pleased to disclose successful results from their lithium-ion battery cathode recycling collaboration.
  • RecycLiCo’s laboratory test results have demonstrated that their recycling process can efficiently treat Nanoramic's innovative NMP-free and PVDF-free electrodes without concern.
  • Notably, Nanoramic’s electrodes can be recycled with fewer processing steps compared to conventional PVDF-based electrodes, resulting in energy and resource savings.
  • The recent developments further underscore the commitment of both organizations to a cleaner, greener future for battery technology and manufacturing.

Orion Resource Partners to Support Euro Manganese with US$100 Million Funding Towards the Development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 28, 2023

The royalties will be calculated on a quarterly basis and the sliding scale rate is dependent on the high-purity manganese products prices achieved during the respective quarter.

Key Points: 
  • The royalties will be calculated on a quarterly basis and the sliding scale rate is dependent on the high-purity manganese products prices achieved during the respective quarter.
  • All aspects of the Funding Package were structured to meet Project finance bankability requirements.
  • Both the Convertible Loan Facility and the Royalty Financing sit alongside, and reduce, the project finance debt and equity required for the full Project financing.
  • Dr. Matthew James, President & CEO of Euro Manganese, commented:
    “This is a transformative transaction for Euro Manganese, providing a Funding Package that facilitates the best possible pathway to a final investment decision and representing a collaboration between Euro Manganese, Orion, and Stifel.

U.S. Senators Push for UNCLOS Ratification as Members of Congress Call for ISA to Adopt Seafloor Mining Regulations

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 21, 2023

The U.S. faces an acute shortage of domestic supply and processing of critical lithium-ion battery cathode materials like cobalt, nickel and manganese.

Key Points: 
  • The U.S. faces an acute shortage of domestic supply and processing of critical lithium-ion battery cathode materials like cobalt, nickel and manganese.
  • In a letter to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, Laura D. Taylor-Kale, the members wrote: “Securing the U.S. critical mineral supply chain is a national security imperative.
  • To counter China’s growing hold on the global supply chain, it is essential that the United States secure its own innovative supply of critical metals.
  • The applicant seems to have the ability to produce battery-grade materials at commercial facilities in North America at pilot scale.

Eramet and Vibrantz Technologies Announce Long-Term Manganese Ore Supply Agreement for the Production of Manganese-Based Battery Technologies Benefiting the Electric Vehicle Market

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Eramet and Vibrantz Technologies today announced a 10-year agreement whereby Eramet will supply Vibrantz with manganese ore, an essential raw material used in Vibrantz’s portfolio of manganese technologies for lithium-ion battery and other applications.

Key Points: 
  • Eramet and Vibrantz Technologies today announced a 10-year agreement whereby Eramet will supply Vibrantz with manganese ore, an essential raw material used in Vibrantz’s portfolio of manganese technologies for lithium-ion battery and other applications.
  • Eramet’s manganese ore will be sourced from its Gabon mine which will undertake the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance’s (IRMA) audit process to align its operations with international best practices.
  • “This agreement confirms Eramet's ability to satisfy and win the loyalty of its customers and partners by supplying quality ore produced under responsible conditions,” said Christel Bories, Eramet Chairman and CEO.
  • “As Vibrantz advances our commitment to becoming a sustainable and world-class specialty chemicals and materials solutions provider, we value our enduring partnership with Eramet,” said D. Michael Wilson, Vibrantz President and CEO.

Assessment of the Global Market for Alternative Cathode Materials 2023-2032: Featuring Mitsubishi Electric Corp, BASF SE, Nippon Chemical Industrial Co, LG Chem, Johnson Matthey, Umicore, and POSCO

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 21, 2023

The automotive industry's transition toward EVs is one of the most significant drivers propelling the demand for advanced cathode materials.

Key Points: 
  • The automotive industry's transition toward EVs is one of the most significant drivers propelling the demand for advanced cathode materials.
  • This combination addresses critical challenges faced by other cathode materials, such as safety concerns, capacity degradation, and overall performance.
  • The low cost of alternative cathode materials is a pivotal factor favoring the shift toward these materials for lithium-ion batteries.
  • Among the prominent players in the global alternative cathode material market, the public players dominate, commanding approximately 70% of the market share in 2022.

Critical Raw Materials in a Clean Energy Transition - Disassembly with Support from Cognitive Robotics and Machine Learning (ML) Provides Growth Opportunities

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 21, 2023

DUBLIN, Dec. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Growth Opportunities for Critical Raw Materials in a Clean Energy Transition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Key Points: 
  • DUBLIN, Dec. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Growth Opportunities for Critical Raw Materials in a Clean Energy Transition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
  • Critical raw materials (CRMs) are raw materials that are economically and strategically important for a country or region but have high risks associated with their supply.
  • Criticality depends on various factors, and what counts as critical from a particular standpoint might not be the same from another standpoint.
  • This study examines recycling, substituting, and innovating in the mining and refining of particular CRMs that are key for the clean energy transition.

Galera Reports Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Updates

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 14, 2023

MALVERN, Pa., Nov. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a pipeline of novel, proprietary therapeutics that have the potential to transform radiotherapy in cancer, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023 and provided recent corporate updates.

Key Points: 
  • The Company is exploring potential strategic alternatives, as it is not feasible to conduct an additional trial with the Company’s current resources.
  • Research and development expenses were $6.1 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $8.1 million for the same period in 2022.
  • General and administrative expenses were $5.0 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2022.
  • As of September 30, 2023, Galera had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $28.4 million.