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Richard Mills
The US government has classified manganese as a strategic
metal. Manganese has no substitute metals in its many steel and alloying
applications and has itself (EMM) become a substitute for other more
expensive metals in certain alloys. Manganese can also replace the more
costly nickel alloy used in stainless steel.
Electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) is a refined manganese product produced
through electrolysis of a manganese rich solution. Manganeseis NOT
mined in North America and there are no domestic suppliers of electrolytic
manganese metal (EMM) in North America. China supplies the United States with
almost 100% of its EMM and currently levies a 20% export tax on EMM. Current
tensions between the United States and China highlight the need for security
of supply regarding the materials and minerals the U.S. considers strategic
and critical.
Various refined forms of manganese such as EMD (electrolytic manganese
dioxide) can be made from the same circuits and process as electrolytic
manganese metal. EMD is a key ingredient in the production of batteries,
including conventional alkaline cells and lithium-ion batteries. The USA is
the largest consumer of EMD worldwide.
EMD demand will rise in lockstep with the rise in the use of rechargeable
batteries used to power consumer electronics, electric and hybrid electric
vehicles and the energy storage systems that store electricity harvested from
clean energy produced by solar, wind and tidal systems.
Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC2) (OTC:
SNCGF) is seeking to create a secure North American source of concentrated
manganese ore.
The company has signed an agreement with Kingston Process Metallurgy Inc.
to investigate all options of enhancing manganese for the purposes of
Lithium-ion battery use.
Battery Hill
Manganese
X Energy Corp.’s Battery Hill property (Globex Mining’s Houlton
Woodstock Manganese Property) is approximately 6 km long on a north-south
axis and approximately 1.7 km wide, east-west.
Three main historic manganese zones plus at least two additional showings
identified in historic exploration are located on MN’s Battery Hill property:
- The Moody Hill zone, strike length of 518m and a width
(from drilling) of 275m, with the potential to contain an estimated
9,072,000 tonnes
- The Sharpe Farm zone, the gravity anomaly extends for
792m. From two drill holes it was postulated that the width was 46m,
with the potential to contain 7,257,000 tonnes.
- The Iron Ore Hill zone, strike length 762m. Two diamond
drill holes put down on the property had intercepts with widths of 225m
and 53m, with the potential to contain 22,680,000 tonnes.
All calculations were to a depth of 152m.
These three zones have a range of grades from 7.5% to 10% Mn with an
overall estimated average grade of 9% Mn.
Further showings of manganese have been identified on MN’s Battery Hill
property.
Please note that the above information is considered historic and should
not be relied upon.
Considerations
Low mining costs – deposit is amendable to low-cost open pit mining
methods with low stripping ratios.
Manganese mineralization within the Battery Hill deposit is present as
rhodochrosite precluding the requirements for high-cost manganese reduction
steps.
On Dec. 21, the company announced that it completed its initial diamond
drill program. Assay results are expected soon.
China controls the electrolytic manganese metal market and North America
has zero domestic mines producing manganese. We need a long term 'domestic'
supply chain of manganese – from mine to battery.
Richard owns shares of Manganese X Energy Corp.(TSX.V: MN)
This document is not, and should not be
construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase any
investment.
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