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Gold/Mining/Energy : Houston Lake Mining [HLM-ASE] -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DRT who wrote (282)	1/15/2000 7:38:00 PM
From: DRT	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 364

Technology Creates Demand for Exotic Metals The Star Business Report, 15 Dec 1999, p 6 Leading Japanese electronics company Sony, and its rival Samsung, are considering investing in mining projects in Zimbabwe to secure supplies of tantalum. Tantalum, and other so-called exotic metals, are in growing demand because of properties such as corrosion-resistance and a high melting point, which improve the reliability and lifespan of electronic components over those made from aluminium and nickel. Australia's Sons of Gwalia (SoG) has taken a lead position in the tantalum market, and controls almost half the world's ore supply from its Greenbushes and Wodgina mines. The company plans to increase output by a third in three years. SoG plans to build the market by keeping prices stable and increasing output, but users want to see other sources of the metal developed. For this reason, Sony is looking to reopen tin mines in Zimbabwe, and Sweden's Raw Materials Group (RMG) is investigating restarting a disused tin mine in Namibia. The demand for alternative materials is also benefiting producers of other 'exotic' metals, such as niobium and ruthenium.