Page 69, 8 April 2012, Sun-Herald by Trevor Hoey
Excerpt
A second phase of the mining boom will herald the emergence of a raft of unknown explorers. These are hopeful miners who are travelling to far-flung corners of the earth to secure the resources that will power the economy of the future.......
IDM International
Mineral: mineral sands (chromite)
Location: US
In the first half of this fiscal year, IDM International began mining operations at its Oregon (US) mineral sands project, paving the way for production of a unique chromite material.
Through its wholly owned subsidiary Oregon Resources, IDM is developing the Southern Oregon Special Mineral project. The specialised end product, branded as SpheriChrome, has applications in the foundry industry, particularly in the manufacture of precision steel casts.
Chromite helps to slow the cooling process, which reduces cracks in the mould, giving the finished product more strength and a smoother finish. This makes it ideal for making precision products that need to withstand high levels of stress.
The US and Canada are net importers of most of their annual requirements for foundry chromite. China is also a source of strong demand for the product.
IDM extracts zircon from its mineral sands and this also has applications in the foundry industry due to its heat-resistant characteristics. It is used in specialised applications, such as glassmaking and the manufacture of engine blocks. Strong demand in Asia is reflected in a significant price increase in the past two years.
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