http://stellarresources.com.au/2014/05/special-time-tin-tungsten/...

http://stellarresources.com.au/2014/05/special-time-tin-tungsten/

http://stellarresources.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/May2014-mag.pdf

http://investorintel.com/rare-earth-intel/tin-least-important-critical-forgotten-everyone-worried/

Tin supply just four years away from crisis

Extracts (worth reading whole article)

Yes, but then fast-forward to the end of Elsner’s paper and he notes that the tin market will probably stay in balance for the next two to three years. But then? “After that the tin market is going to change drastically. Reason: depletion of Indonesian resources,” said Elsner.

A great analysis of the tin situation was presented by Yunnan Tin general manager Gao Wenxiang who cited U.S. Geological Survey figures showing that in 2000 the estimated size of the the world’s tin reserves was 6.9 million tonnes; now they are thought to stand at 4.7 million tonnes. Tin production is also declining: it peaked at 350,000 tonnes in 2007 and in 2013 was down to 280,000 tonnes, the same as it had been in 2003. Gao said the problem has been a combination of resource depletion, too little investment in exploration and a failure to come up with sufficient numbers of new projects. The future painted by Yunnan Tin is not a rosy one. The company sees a global situation where we are facing a rapid decrease in the reserves and supply of high grade tin, and most mines experiencing falling grades.

For the record, Elsner lists the probable new tin projects that will get into production by 2020:

Mount Garnet, Australia, owned by MGT Resources
La Parilla Tailings in Spain, owned by London-listed W Resources Plc.
Hemerdon, England, a tungsten-tin project owned by Australia’s Wolf Minerals

Achmmach, Morocco, owned by Australia’s Kasbah Resources
Bofedal II, Peru, Owned by Minsur

Heemskirk, Australia, owns by Stellar Resources.

The problem is that only the last three on that list will be producing quantities of tin that will make significant impact on world supply.

https://www.itri.co.uk/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=3013&Itemid=143

https://www.itri.co.uk/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=3014&Itemid=177

https://www.itri.co.uk/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=3017&Itemid=143

We have already published two separate stories about the major exploration and investment programmes being carried out by Yunnan Tin and Minsur, but many speakers spoke about the great challenges in bringing new mine projects on stream elsewhere in the world at current tin price levels. For example Michael Jansen of RK Capital noted the difficulties of both equity and debt financing for juniors, even though many investors would like to get into tin. Meanwhile Dr Harald Elsner of Germany’s BGR forecast that from a long list of prospects only seven new mine projects were likely to go ahead up to 2020.