Thursday 31 July 2014

International Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium Move to Advance the Blackstairs Lithium Project, Ireland.





International Lithium Corp. A Potential Source For Green Technology Minerals.


  Rare Earth elements or metals (REEs) are essential elements in clean-energy technologies. In recent years REEs have received plenty of coverage concurrent to growing environmental concerns. The rare-earth topic is no longer obscure and discussions regarding future REE shortages are beginning to emerge in mainstream media. Today international governments and organizations are pushing efforts to develop solutions to the rising scarcity threat, one of the biggest being that only 1 percent of critical materials are currently being recycled (they are difficult to recover economically), and so the race to find viable sources for REEs is on.



  The Green Technology Industry is the largest end-user of REEs and is continually growing with the development of electric vehicles and green energy electrical generators; wind turbines and solar panels. According to the American Chemistry Society, Lithium is among these endangered metals. China, which controls 97% of global rare earth production, has made significant investments in securing their supply. One excellent example of this is the recent news from China based Ganfeng Lithium Corp. regarding their 15million yuan (US $2.4 million) investment into International Lithium’s Blackstairs Pegmatite project in Ireland and the Mariana Brine project in Argentina for the 2014 budget year. Ganfeng Lithium Corp. is one of the largest lithium product suppliers in the world supplying ILC with both capital and expertise and providing the global green technology industry with a new potential source of lithium supply. Read more."

International Lithium Corp.:

Jul 30, 2014

International Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium Move to Advance the Blackstairs Lithium Project, Ireland

Vancouver, B.C. July 30, 2014: International Lithium Corp. (the "Company" or "ILC") (TSX VENTURE:ILC.V) is pleased to announce that further to the Company's news release dated March 19, 2014 (Mar19_2014_NewsRelease) Blackstairs Lithium Ltd. ("BLL"), a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland, has issued shares to GFL International Co., Ltd. ("Ganfeng Lithium" or "GFL") and International Lithium Corp. in the amounts of 51% to GFL and 49% to ILC. BLL holds all rights to the prospecting licences that comprise the Blackstairs Lithium project located in Leinster, south-east Ireland.



Pursuant to the joint venture agreement between ILC and GFL, BLL will act as the joint venture company and carry out all activities required to advance the project. GFL has agreed to fund an initial program of EUR€1,600,000 (approximately CAN$2,300,000). The first cash advance of the multi-phase program of EUR€500,000 (approximately CAN$725,000) will be used to conduct property scale geological mapping and geochemical surveys in preparation for drill target selection. The newly acquired results will be compiled with existing data and known mineralized occurrences to prioritize exploratory drilling and resource delineation drilling in subsequent phases. ILC is initially appointed manager of the project and will receive a management fee of 10% of the exploration expenditures.




Mr. Kirill Klip, President, International Lithium Corp. comments, "We are excited to spearhead this international collaboration and program that sets a precedent for sourcing metals that are imperative to the advancement of mobile devices, electric vehicles and alternative energy. The demand for Lithium is continually on the rise and there are shortage concerns which could impede on the growth of the green technology sector worldwide. The Irish government has taken this risk very seriously and pledged to facilitate the advancement of lithium production as part of an initiative to improve strategic metal supply chains. Together with Ganfeng Lithium, ILC has the opportunity to be part of this development and we are optimistic that we have a new potential source for the lithium battery supply chain".



Mr. Wang Xiaoshen, Vice Chairman/ VP, Ganfeng Lithium Corp. notes, "Recent news that corporations such as Tesla and Panasonic are making significant commitments to build gigafactory battery plants will significantly impact the demand for Lithium. Similarly the Chinese market will become increasingly more important to companies like Tesla in the near future. These two reasons make BLL an ideal prospect for the lithium industry."



Blackstairs Project

The Blackstairs project, comprised of eight mineral exploration licences totalling 292 square kilometres, is located 80 km south of Dublin straddling the Counties of Carlow and Wicklow in Leinster, south-east Ireland. The Property encompasses an extensive NE-SW oriented 50 kilometre long rare metals pegmatite belt situated within the East Carlow Deformation Zone along the eastern side of the Leinster Granite. Approximately 19 significant lithium pegmatite occurrences have been discovered within the Property to date, primarily as boulder trails with five buried pegmatites known through past trenching and drilling.



Lithium bearing pegmatite occurrences were first reported in the area in 1970. In the period through to 1977, Irish Base Metals carried out a preliminary exploration program comprising prospecting, sampling, trenching and geophysical surveys culminating in 47 short boreholes totalling 2,300 metres at 4 of the 19 lithium pegmatite occurrences over a number of seasons.

Due to the prevalent overburden cover and scarcity of outcrop, prospecting for lithium pegmatite boulders was the most successful exploration method utilised to identify priority target areas. The relative location, size and quantity of pegmatite boulders within the dry stone field boundaries provided a reliable indication for the approximate position of buried pegmatites. The Aclare House occurrence, situated in the center of the Property has witnessed the most exploration activity on the Property and was initially discovered through this exploration approach.

Thirty-three short drill holes totalling 1,703m were drilled at Aclare House. A pegmatite body up to 20 metres wide and traced for more than 400 metres along strike was delineated and a pre-NI43-101 historical resource of 570,000 tonnes grading 1.5% Li2O was reported. (A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources, the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources and the historical estimate should not be relied upon.)

Five drill holes, for a total of 163 metres, were drilled at the Stranakelly occurrence situated proximal to the northeast Property boundary. Lithium-bearing pegmatite mineralization was intersected in four of the holes with hole STK3 grading 1.85% Li2O over 5.3 metres.

Five drill holes, for a total of 212 metres, were drilled at the Moylisha occurrence situated approximately 10 kms northeast of Aclare House. The width of the pegmatite body encountered varied between 5 and 10 metres with one hole grading 1.66% Li2O over 9.4 metres.

Four drill holes, for a total of 280 metres, were drilled at the Seskinnamadra occurrence situated approximately 8 kms southwest of Aclare House. The narrow pegmatite intersections reported from the drilling does not explain the significant frequency and size of the lithium pegmatite boulders mapped in the area that suggests a potentially large yet to be discovered buried pegmatite body.

The observed lithium bearing pegmatites and extensive boulder occurrences within the Property represent a highly prospective and underexplored region. In addition, the recent discovery of a high concentration of pegmatite boulders reporting grades exceeding 4% Li2O at Moylisha only serve to highlight the exploration potential of the Property.

John Harrop, P.Geo, FGS, is the Company's Qualified Person on the project as defined under NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical information contained in this press release.

About International Lithium Corp.

International Lithium Corp. is an exploration company with an outstanding portfolio of projects, strong management ownership, robust financial support and a strategic partner and keystone investor Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., a leading China based lithium product manufacturer.

The Company's primary focus is the Mariana lithium-potash brine project, within the renowned South American "Lithium Belt" that is the host to the vast majority of global lithium resources, reserves and production. The 160 square kilometre Mariana project strategically encompasses an entire mineral rich evaporate basin that ranks as one of the more prospective salars or 'salt lakes" in the region.

Complementing the Company's lithium brine project are rare metals pegmatite properties in Canada and Ireland. These projects reported highly encouraging lithium mineralization in drill holes targeting pegmatites that are unexposed at surface (news releases dated April 3,2013 and June 25, 2013).

With the increasing demand for high tech rechargeable batteries used in vehicle propulsion technologies and portable electronics, lithium is paramount to tomorrow's "green-tech" economy. By positioning itself with solid development partners and acquiring high quality grass roots projects at an early stage of exploration, ILC aims to be the green tech resource explorer of choice for investors and build value for its shareholders.



On behalf of the Board of Directors,


Kirill Klip President, International Lithium Corp.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this press release other than purely historical information, historical estimates should not be relied upon, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, are forward-looking statements. News release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business, including risks inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Saturday 26 July 2014

Residents For The Green Belt In UK: Object To The Wentworth Club Hotel Development Today!

OBJECT TO THE WENTWORTH CLUB HOTEL DEVELOPMENT TODAY!

FELLOW RESIDENTS!
ARE YOU AWARE THAT….
The present owners of Wentworth Golf Club have submitted a planning application RU.14/0869 for the erection of a Hotel to provide 56 additional guestrooms, four conference rooms, roof garden, together with associated plant? It is displayed on the Runnymede Planning website under the planning application in a document named; ”Statement of Community Involvement”.  In it the Club claims that they have informed and discussed this Hotel development with the residents before submitting their application. This is clearly not the case as the residents report they have not been informed. The Club has been very remiss as the construction of this hotel will hugely impact on us. Whether you agree with a hotel development or not, we should be consulted on such a major change to the character of the Estate.  We understand, and the Club has failed to deny that they have marketed to potential new owners that they could build the Hotel and possibly redevelop the current Executive Course with housing, further increasing the density of houses on the Estate and change the character of the Estate forever.
DO YOU BELIEVE YOU SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS ON THE ESTATE?
Previous owners of Wentworth Club have attempted further development on this green belt land and have historically been blocked by the residents. The current Wentworth Residents Association (WRA) have failed in their duty to inform and seek the views of the residents. Mr. Julian Small, the CEO of the Club, is on the committee of the WRA and if he or the committee had any regard for the residents, the perfect forum of communication is through the WRA. Currently we have no voice in what happens to our Estate. We feel strongly that we have been badly let down and have been by both the WRA and the WREC and we are being ignored by the Club. We must have a say in what happens on our Estate and we would ask you to join the WRA and vote to ensure you are properly represented.
We urge you to object to this application today and force the Club to withdraw the application and begin consultations with the residents as they should have done in the first instance.
Please visit http://wentworthestateresidents.tumblr.com/# for information and templates for your objection. Comments can be submitted up until the review starts. 
Send your objection to: planning@runnymede.gov.uk with CC to Cllr Geoffrey Woodger cllr.Geoffrey.Woodger@runnymede.gov.uk
 
Note that only after a Petition was signed by many residents requesting an Emergency Special General Meeting did the WRA today schedule a meeting to take place on Thursday 14 August at 7 PM at the Wentworth Club.   Please attend this meeting and if you cannot attend then please consider signing the enclosed proxy allowing someone  of your choice to vote for you at the meeting.
Act today! Submit your Objection to Runnymede.  Attend the Emergency Special Meeting of  the WRA.  Become a voting member of the WRA by paying £25. For further information please email fellow resident Mr Kirill Klip k.klip@btinternet.com and with your consent, he will blind copy you on emails for future communication.
 

Tuesday 22 July 2014

Elon Musk Moves To Mass Market For Electric Cars: $35,000 Tesla Model 3 Arrives in 2017.



 We have the official confirmation from Elon Musk about the $35,000 Tesla Model 3 with 200-mile range to arrive in 2017. We are at the tipping point of the mass market for Electric Cars now. Developments in Asia with Foxconn will bring the Lithium race into another gear and after the largest ever Lithium M&A deal major industry players are taking the seats in the front rows of the spectacular show to participate in the dramatic transformation of our society into the 21st century New Industrial Revolution with Electric rEvolution. It will affects all of us, some will be fighting it with the new wars, others will embrace it and make it happen.



International Lithium Corp. A Potential Source For Green Technology Minerals.



  Rare Earth elements or metals (REEs) are essential elements in clean-energy technologies. In recent years REEs have received plenty of coverage concurrent to growing environmental concerns.  The rare-earth topic is no longer obscure and discussions regarding future REE shortages are beginning to emerge in mainstream media. Today international governments and organizations are pushing efforts to develop solutions to the rising scarcity threat, one of the biggest being that only 1 percent of critical materials are currently being recycled (they are difficult to recover economically), and so the race to find viable sources for REEs is on.



  The Green Technology Industry is the largest end-user of REEs and is continually growing with the development of electric vehicles and green energy electrical generators; wind turbines and solar panels. According to the American Chemistry Society, Lithium is among these endangered metals. China, which controls 97% of global rare earth production, has made significant investments in securing their supply. One excellent example of this is the recent news from China based Ganfeng Lithium Corp. regarding their 15million yuan (US $2.4 million) investment into International Lithium’s Blackstairs Pegmatite project in Ireland and the Mariana Brine project in Argentina for the 2014 budget year.  Ganfeng Lithium Corp. is one of the largest lithium product suppliers in the world supplying ILC with both capital and expertise and providing the global green technology industry with a new potential source of lithium supply. Read more."



Cnet:

What happens when a $35,000 Tesla arrives?


Tesla revealed this week that its more pedestrian vehicle will be called the Model 3. That is expected to retail for about $35,000. We asked an expert about the prospects of a "cheap" Tesla.
by 

The all-electric Tesla Model S starts at around $70,000: A model for half the price could be a game-changer for Tesla.
Tesla
What happens when a much more affordable Tesla arrives? An expert offered his thoughts to CNET.

Tesla said this week that its $35,000 entry, due in 2017 (or thereabouts), will be called the Model 3. One of the keys to making a cheaper Tesla is battery technology, as CEO Elon Musk pointed out to Auto Express earlier in the week.
I chatted with John Voelcker, senior editor for High Gear Media, which publishesGreen Car Reports, in the wake of the news. He offered insight into what impact a lower-priced Tesla might have.
Q: Tesla has sold very pricey cars to date. How might a $35,000 Model 3 shake things up?John Voelcker: A list price of $35,000 is a very nice place to be as compared to the current Model S, which is selling well for its category, but this is a category that starts at $70,000 and goes up to six figures. So, if Tesla can in fact introduce the Model 3, as it's now called, at a base price of $35,000 with a 200-mile electric range, that will take them into a whole new order of magnitude of volume.
Why can't they do that today?Voelcker: Lithium ion battery costs need to come down (as one salient reason), both through advances in technology and higher volumes. They made the Roadster, which was a two-seat performance car. They made 2,500 of those. They've made more than 50,000 of their Model S sedans. Once you get into volume manufacturing, like the Model 3 that Musk described, then you're talking not about tens of thousands of cars per year but, ideally, hundreds of thousands of cars per year. That battery production capacity doesn't exist. That's where the gigafactory comes in. Musk said we can't do the Model 3 unless we have that factory.
What do you attribute the American public's fascination with the Tesla to? This could trigger a sales surge, correct? It seems to me that a lot of people are waiting on the sidelines for a more affordable Tesla.Voelcker: Tesla has had an ability to market itself without actually paying for much marketing and attract tens of thousands of devoted followers. It has grabbed the imagination of the technology-following public and the car-buying public in a way that I don't think [has] very many other parallels. If the company can deliver a stylish design with a 200-mile range or greater and can use the existing supercharger network of recharging sites all over the country -- and the world -- at a price of $35,000, I suspect there are a large number of people who will line up to buy one.
That said, Tesla may not be as alone offering such a car as they have been. [Others] could produce a car as good and as stylish. By the time the Model 3 begins to be delivered to customers you will have vehicles with similar specifications both from Nissan -- which has sold more electric cars than anyone else in the world -- and GM, who has a 200-mile electric car [in the works].
The fact the Tesla even exists is a bit a of miracle, don't you think? Voelcker: When's the last time a group of entrepreneurs started a car company from the ground up, whose brand is still with us today? The answer to that question: 1924. Cnet."


Sunday 20 July 2014

International Lithium: Electric Cars Are Driving Lithium Demand.





International Lithium Corp. A Potential Source For Green Technology Minerals.




  Rare Earth elements or metals (REEs) are essential elements in clean-energy technologies. In recent years REEs have received plenty of coverage concurrent to growing environmental concerns.  The rare-earth topic is no longer obscure and discussions regarding future REE shortages are beginning to emerge in mainstream media. Today international governments and organizations are pushing efforts to develop solutions to the rising scarcity threat, one of the biggest being that only 1 percent of critical materials are currently being recycled (they are difficult to recover economically), and so the race to find viable sources for REEs is on.



  The Green Technology Industry is the largest end-user of REEs and is continually growing with the development of electric vehicles and green energy electrical generators; wind turbines and solar panels. According to the American Chemistry Society, Lithium is among these endangered metals. China, which controls 97% of global rare earth production, has made significant investments in securing their supply. One excellent example of this is the recent news from China based Ganfeng Lithium Corp. regarding their 15million yuan (US $2.4 million) investment into International Lithium’s Blackstairs Pegmatite project in Ireland and the Mariana Brine project in Argentina for the 2014 budget year.  Ganfeng Lithium Corp. is one of the largest lithium product suppliers in the world supplying ILC with both capital and expertise and providing the global green technology industry with a new potential source of lithium supply.




  Ganfeng’s transaction signifies confidence in ILC’s capabilities as ILC is currently one of the only publicly traded Canadian Corporations receiving funding from China after the collapse of the multi-million dollar CNOOC/Nexen deal. The Blackstairs Lithium project in Ireland is particularly momentous as a recent European Union study concluded that rare earth supply constraints could hamper clean energy efforts. Ireland has pledged to make the mining process more efficient as part of an approach to boost lithium production. Subsequent to the Blackstairs funding announcement, Jianguo Xu, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, paid a courtesy call to Richard Bruton, Ireland’s Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, to discuss how to promote pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.  



  Beyond the growing demand and investment from Chinese conglomerates, encouraging headlines have also come out of Argentina, which is home to ILC’s Lithium-Brine Project located within the famous Andes Lithium Triangle. The political tide appears to have made a turn for the better this year as governments in Argentina took positive steps towards modernizing public policy to encourage foreign investment. Not only was the national currency devalued to bring it closer to its real value but new economic systems to measure real impacts of inflation were implemented. The settlement with Spanish oil giant Repsol over the YPF nationalization is another indicator that change for the better is in the works. In addition, an unprecedented debt repayment deal was struck with the “Paris Club” of creditor nations, and Lumina Copper’s announcement that First Quantum Minerals has agreed to purchase the Taca Taca copper project for $470 million  should help to shore up lingering doubts about the direction  Argentina’s mining industry is headed. Taca Taca is approximately 70 kilometres from ILC’s Mariana project and any infrastructure built to facilitate production at Taca Taca will also benefit Mariana.




  ILCs goes beyond traditional mine development and is creating a business model that is focused on cooperation and growth. Ganfeng Lithium and ILC are jointly working on a vertical integration plan to develop both lithium projects and have just announced an exploration budget for 2014. With the REE demand growing and Tesla’s big Open Source move, this venture could not have occurred at a more opportune time.



About International Lithium Corp. 


  International Lithium Corp. is an exploration company with an outstanding portfolio of projects, strong management ownership, robust financial support and a strategic partner and keystone investor Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., a leading China based lithium product manufacturer.

  The Company's primary focus is the Mariana lithium-potash brine project, within the renowned South American "Lithium Belt" that is the host to the vast majority of global lithium resources, reserves and production. The 160 square kilometre Mariana project strategically encompasses an entire mineral rich evaporate basin that ranks as one of the more prospective salars or 'salt lakes" in the region.

  Complementing the Company's lithium brine project are rare metals pegmatite properties in Canada and Ireland. These projects reported highly encouraging lithium mineralization in drill holes targeting pegmatites that are unexposed at surface (news releases dated April 3,2013 and June 25, 2013).

  With the increasing demand for high tech rechargeable batteries used in vehicle propulsion technologies and portable electronics, lithium is paramount to tomorrow's "green-tech" economy. By positioning itself with solid development partners and acquiring high quality grass roots projects at an early stage of exploration, ILC aims to be the green tech resource explorer of choice for investors and build value for its shareholders.

  Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this press release other than purely historical information, historical estimates should not be relied upon, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, are forward-looking statements. News release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business, including risks inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.


Friday 18 July 2014

Copper M&A in Latin America, TNR Gold And McEwen Mining With Los Azules Copper.

  

  We have the great news from McEwen Mining, you can Google for the whole news release. Before the value for Los Azules was based on the acquisition price paid by US Gold for Minera Andes. After the collapse in Gold prices and Argentina troubled couple of years this accounting value has became the wishful history. Now based on the valuations of Taca Taca in First Quantum Minerals takeover of Lumina Copper McEwen Mining will make the conservative accounting valuation of Los Azules. Normally the selling price for the assets is above such an assessment. You will have to make your own numbers or contact Jim Mustard at PI Financial, who is acting on behalf of TNR Gold.

McEwen Mining:

"We are conducting an impairment test of our Los Azules project in Argentina as a result of the recently announced acquisition of Lumina Copper Corp. by First Quantum Minerals Ltd., for approximately C$470 million. Lumina's only significant asset is the Taca Taca copper project located in Salta, Argentina. While there are some notable differences between Taca Taca and Los Azules, we believe the similarities in project scale and location within Argentina warrant consideration for the Lumina transaction to be a triggering event for impairment analysis. Our preliminary analysis, which places a substantial weighting on the announcement day value of the Lumina transaction to value Los Azules, indicates a pre-tax asset impairment charge in the range of approximately $90-135 million(1). The actual amount, when we have completed the final impairment assessment, will be reported in our quarterly 10-Q which is due to be filed on August 7, 2014.

"With First Quantum acquiring Lumina Copper and their Taca Taca project, Los Azules moves to the forefront in terms of world-class, undeveloped, high-grade copper assets not owned by a major mining company. As we have said in the past, Taca Taca serves as a good proxy for the value of Los Azules and we believe this transaction demonstrates value in projects located in Argentina", said Rob McEwen , Chief Owner, Chairman and CEO.

(1) This is a preliminary estimate range and the impairment testing work, both internally and in collaboration with our external valuation consultants is ongoing, including with respect to various underlying assumptions and comparable transaction analysis. We note that the Lumina/First Quantum transaction is not scheduled to close until approximately August 30, 2014. As of March 31, 2014, we carried the Los Azules project at a pre-tax net book value of approximately $431 million."


Mining M&A in Latin America, China And Prospects For Copper Supply.



  "Chile, Indonesia, USA, Australia and Canada together account for 80% of the world’s copper supply, and with the revived interest in the metal, many national companies are now making headlines with plans of acting to relieve demand pressures and ease supply shortfalls, signalling the potential turnaround and the major bottom in this mining cycle anticipated in the copper market. Read more." 

All slides in this part of the post are from McEwen Mining presentations.

Please Note that TNR Gold Qualified Person - as it is defined by NI 43-101, was NOT able to Verify and Confirm Any Provided Information by The Third Parties; you must NOT rely in any sense on any of this information in order to make any Resource or Value Calculation, or attribute any particular Value or Price Target to any Discussed Securities.






End of slides from McEwen Mining presentations.

Mining M&A: China's Top Gold Firm Talking To Barrick And Friedland As Copper Rallies.


    

  As we have discussed before, we have really Hot Winter In Argentina for mining M&A. Now Frik Els confirms "China's Top Gold Firm Talking to Barrick Gold, Has Friedland "hotline":


"China's largest gold mining company, China National Gold, is officially setting up shop in junior mining hub Vancouver this week as part of a push into new markets and its global acquisition strategy.

President Xin Song told the Wall Street Journal ahead of Wednesday's event, the Beijing-based firm is on the hunt for global acquisitions and partnerships in gold, silver and copper:

"The growing strategy is very clear, we are going out looking at things globally. On our hands we have a few opportunities, at different stages."

Song, who also chairs the China Gold Association, has not ruled out acquisitions in developed countries, such as Canada, Australia and the US, but the main focus of its expansion strategy is assets in the region including in Mongolia, Russia and countries in central Asia.
Investments in "politically stable" countries in Latin America and Africa are also being considered Song said. Mining.com"