Primordial lightning strikes may have helped life emerge on Earth

By Will Dunham 6 hrs ago

© Reuters/Ivan Alvarado FILE PHOTO: Lightning bolts strike around the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic chain near southern Osorno city

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The emergence of the Earth's first living organisms billions of years ago may have been facilitated by a bolt out of the blue - or perhaps a quintillion of them.

Researchers said on Tuesday that lightning strikes during the first billion years after the planet's formation roughly 4.5 billion years ago may have freed up phosphorus required for the formation of biomolecules essential to life.

© Reuters/Gene Blevins FILE PHOTO: Mass lightning bolts light up night skies by Daggett airport

The study may offer insight into the origins of Earth's earliest microbial life - and potential extraterrestrial life on similar rocky planets. Phosphorus is a crucial part of the recipe for life. It makes up the phosphate backbone of DNA and RNA, hereditary material in living organisms, and represents an important component of cell membranes.

On early Earth, this chemical element was locked inside insoluble minerals. Until now, it was widely thought that meteorites that bombarded early Earth were primarily responsible for the presence of "bioavailable" phosphorus. Some meteorites contain the phosphorus mineral called schreibersite, which is soluble in water, where life is thought to have formed.

© Reuters/Lucy Entwisle

 An artist's rendition shows the early Earth environment

When a bolt of lightning strikes the ground, it can create glassy rocks called fulgurites by super-heating and sometimes vaporizing surface rock, freeing phosphorus locked inside. As a result, these fulgurites can contain schreibersite.

The researchers estimated the number of lightning strikes spanning between 4.5 billion and 3.5 billion years ago based on atmospheric composition at the time and calculated how much schreibersite could result. The upper range was about a quintillion lightning strikes and the formation of upwards of 1 billion fulgurites annually.

Phosphorus minerals arising from lightning strikes eventually exceeded the amount from meteorites by about 3.5 billion years ago, roughly the age of the earliest-known fossils widely accepted to be those of microbes, they found.

"Lightning strikes, therefore, may have been a significant part of the emergence of life on Earth," said Benjamin Hess, a Yale University graduate student in earth and planetary sciences and lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications

.

© Reuters/BENJAMIN HESS All excavated pieces of the fulgurite from the backyard of a familyÕs home in Illinois analyzed in a study are seen in this undated handout image

"Unlike meteorite impacts which decrease exponentially through time, lightning strikes can occur at a sustained rate over a planet's history. This means that lightning strikes also may be a very important mechanism for providing the phosphorus needed for the emergence of life on other Earth-like planets after meteorite impacts have become rare," Hess added.

© Reuters/BENJAMIN HESS All excavated pieces of the fulgurite from the backyard of a family’s home in Illinois analyzed in a study are seen in this undated handout image

The researchers examined an unusually large and pristine fulgurite sample formed when lightning struck the backyard of a home in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, outside Chicago. This sample illustrated that fulgurites harbor significant amounts of schreibersite.

"Our research shows that the production of bioavailable phosphorus by lightning strikes may have been underestimated and that this mechanism provides an ongoing supply of material capable of supplying phosphorous in a form appropriate for the initiation of life," said study co-author Jason Harvey, a University of Leeds associate professor of geochemistry.

Among the ingredients considered necessary for life are water, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus, along with an energy source.

Scientists believe the earliest bacteria-like organisms arose in Earth's primordial waters, but there is a debate over when this occurred and whether it unfolded in warm and shallow waters or in deeper waters at hydrothermal vents.

"This model," Hess said, referring to phosphorous unlocked by lightning, "is applicable to only the terrestrial formation of life such as in shallow waters. Phosphorus added to the ocean from lightning strikes would probably be negligible given its size."

(Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

Rio Tinto inks deal to sell first batch of scandium alloy from North America

Reuters | March 11, 2021 |

The aluminum-scandium alloy will be used to develop powder for 3D printing. (Adobe Stock)

Rio Tinto said on Thursday it had signed an agreement to supply the first batch of its aluminum-scandium alloy produced in North America to additive manufacturer and developer Amaero, to be used to develop powder for 3D printing.


The scandium oxide will be supplied from a new plant the global miner is building in Quebec, and will use a process that Rio’s scientists have developed to extract scandium oxide from waste streams of titanium dioxide production.

The alloy billets will come from its Fer et Titane metallurgical complex in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Rio said.

The companies will also work together to develop the supply chain for Amaero’s aluminium alloy, “Amaero HOT Al”, with expectations of commercializing it for applications in the aerospace, defence and other industries.

Amaero was established with the support of Monash University in 2013, and holds exclusive global commercial licence rights to the alloy, which was developed by Monash University.

“We look forward to working with Rio Tinto to progress the production of the alloy so we can commence the qualification process with key customers in the aerospace sector and other industries,” Amaero CEO Barrie Finnin said.

(By Arundhati Dutta; Editing by Uttaresh.V)

Green hydrogen key to decarbonising mining – report

MINING.com Editor | March 11, 2021 | 

An example of a mine haul truck that will be converted to run on hydrogen. Credit: Anglo American Plc.

As decarbonisation targets drive emissions regulations, green hydrogen has significant potential to play an important role in decarbonising the mining sector in the coming years, market analyst Fitch Solutions says in its latest industry report.


Within the mining sector, Fitch expects transportation and energy storage to be the primary use applications of green hydrogen, with firms initially producing their own green hydrogen by investing in related on-site infrastructure.

Green hydrogen refers to the sourcing of hydrogen from renewable energy sources through electrolysis to split water. At present, green hydrogen accounts for only 0.1% of the global hydrogen market as its immense electricity requirements made production exceptionally expensive.

Falling renewables costs increase feasibility of green hydrogen mining adoption

 

According to Fitch’s Power & Renewables team, electricity costs account for roughly 50-75% of total green hydrogen production costs; however, Fitch says the downward trend in renewables electricity costs will benefit the industry’s future growth.

Fitch asserts the use of green hydrogen will be one of the key factors to help decarbonise the mining and metals sector, via its transport and industrial production applications. Growing use of green hydrogen will prove beneficial to the mining and metals sector, increasing respective players’ social licenses to operate within their communities as well as increasing financing options by meeting rising ESG standards, Fitch maintains. 

 

Within the mining sector, Fitch expects transportation and energy storage to be the primary use applications of green hydrogen. Green hydrogen will be increasingly utilised to adapt mining haulage fleets, with Anglo American serving as a prominent first mover in the industry, Fitch says.

GROWING USE OF GREEN HYDROGEN WILL INCREASE RESPECTIVE PLAYERS’ SOCIAL LICENSES TO OPERATE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS INCREASING FINANCING OPTIONS BY MEETING RISING ESG STANDARDS

Anglo American announced in October 2019 a joint partnership with ENGIE to co-create the first green-hydrogen-powered mining truck. In November 2020, the firms reported that the electrolyser for the project had been delivered to the site by Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser AS, with the vehicle expected to debut in H1 20 21 at its Mogalakwena mine in South Africa.

Glencore has used a hydrogen energy storage unit and wind turbine to power its Raglan mine in Canada since 2015. Rio Tinto signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Paul Wurth SA and SHS-Stahl- Holding-Saar GmbH & Co. KGaA to explore the transformation of iron ore pellets into low-carbon, hot briquetted iron using green hydrogen, and Fortescue entered a partnership with South Korean steelmaker POSCO to produce green hydrogen in December 2020, Fitch reports.

(Read the full report here)

Argonaut to drill for copper against Aboriginal wishes in South Australia

Reuters | March 12, 2021

Stuart Creek with Lake Torrens in the background. 

(Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.)

Miner Argonaut Resources is preparing to start drilling for copper next week on the shores of South Australia’s Lake Torrens, it said on Friday, against the stated wishes of local Aboriginal groups.


Drilling for the Murdie project is set to begin after 20 semi-trailer trucks delivered accomodation units, ground protection matting, vehicles and specialist drills, Argonaut said in a filing to the stock exchange.

“Argonaut anticipates that drilling will be underway early in the week commencing 15 March 2021. Drilling be conducted 24/7 in two daily shifts,” it said.

The project comes after the miner received approval from South Australia’s government in January to drill, which came despite opposition from Indigenous groups who say they have ancestral ties to the lake.

“We are telling them, ‘you can’t do that mate, it’s against our beliefs,” said heritage services manager Glen Wingfield of Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation.

DRILLING FOR THE MURDIE PROJECT IS SET TO BEGIN ON MARCH 15, DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM INDIGENOUS GROUPS WHO SAY THEY HAVE ANCESTRAL TIES TO THE LAKE

“They disregard the stories and the importance for our community – they just want to go off and mine,” he told Reuters, adding that Argonaut had not obtained their consent to drill.

Argonaut director Lindsay Owler did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

Last year mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd destroyed two ancient and sacred Indigenous rock shelters in the Pilbara region of Western Australia as part of an iron ore mine expansion.

The destruction focused a spotlight on Australia’s laws that have been skewed to favour development at the expense of Aboriginal heritage, sparking international condemnation and a national inquiry.

Below Lake Torrens are fragile fresh water acquifers that local Aboriginal groups fear could be damaged by mining, jeopardising water supplies in the arid region, while the lake itself is part of their spiritual beliefs.

A native title judgement in 2016 raised questions about whether local Aboriginal groups had ancestral and ongoing ties to the region, citing a lack of ethographic evidence.

(By Melanie Burton; Editing by Michael Perry)

UK coal mine on hold after gov’t calls for public inquiry
Cecilia Jamasmie | March 12, 2021
The main mine site will be located at Marchon (pictured) based on the public consultation’s results. (Image courtesy of West Cumbria Mining.)

Plans to build the UK’s first new deep coal mine in three decades will be subject to a public inquiry following pressure for climate change advisers who said the project would “increase global emissions.”


Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government had halted the development of West Cumbria Mining’s Woodhouse Colliery project in north-west England in October, while it decided whether to call in the application or hand the decision back to local authorities.

Housing Minister Robert Jenrick confirmed on Friday the government’s decision to “call in” the controversial application and put it to a public inquiry.

“The Secretary of State has decided to call this application in because of the further developments since his original decision,” a letter signed by Jenrick said. “The Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) recommendations for the 6th Carbon Budget have been published since he was advised on this decision.”

Ministers have previously been criticized for not blocking the coal mine, particularly given that the UK is hosting Cop26, the UN climate summit, in November. A few weeks ago one of the country’s most renowned environmental scientists, Robert Watson, said it was “absolutely ridiculous” that authorities were refusing to act.

“The truth is that this mine is terrible for our fight against climate change, won’t help our steel industry and won’t create secure jobs,” Labour’s shadow business secretary Ed Miliband told Sky News.
“Net-zero” goal questioned

The Cumbria council had approved the Woodhouse Colliery mine in October, with Jenrick refusing to intervene at the time. That sparked concern among the CCC, who said the planned coal mine would threaten the UK’s target to zero-out greenhouse gas pollution by mid-century and damage its reputation as a climate leader.

The planned mine would produce as much as 3.1 million tonnes of metallurgical coal a year until 2049, one year before the country’s deadline to reach net zero emissions. While the UK will use some of that coal in its steel industry, 85% of it is marked for export to Europe.

In that period, the mine will provide 500 jobs, but the CCC also expects it to add about 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent of emissions each year.

“Of course, job creation is absolutely vital to communities but we must look forward to the jobs of 21st century, not back to those in declining industries,” Greenpeace UK’s policy director Doug Parr told MINING.COM in February.

A study by the center-right think tank Bright Blue, published in October, shows that most in the UK are skeptical about achieving the net-zero target by 2050.

Greenpeace hailed the public inquiry announcement as “fantastic news and definitely better late than never.” Friends of the Earth added it was a “startling, but very welcome U-turn”, and urged the government to refuse permission for the project.

England’s last operating deep coal mine, Kellingley, closed in 2015, and the Bradley coal mine closed last year, after almost 200 years in operation.

British Columbia launches Mining Innovation Roadmap

Nelson Bennett - Business in Vancouver | March 15, 2021 

Telegraph Creek, British Columbia. Image courtesy of Pinterest.

The British Columbia government and Mining Association of BC unveiled on Monday a new Mining Innovation Roadmap that aims to tap Vancouver’s high-tech expertise and B.C.’s abundant clean energy to make mining in B.C.cleaner, greener and more productive.


Monday is officially Mining Day in B.C. and the government used the occasion to invite B.C.’s mining industry representatives to meet with government and opposition leaders virtually to promote the progress they have made to date.


The mining sector has already provided a catalyst for companies like Saltworks and MineSense to develop engineering solutions to some of the problems the industry faces. The new roadmap aims to build on that synergy.

“At a time when British Columbians need it most, mining can play a critical and positive role in the province’s economic recovery,” said Michael Goehring, president of the Mining Association of BC.

WHILE GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE BEGUN TO ACCEPT THAT MINING WILL BE CRITICAL TO THE ENERGY TRANSITION, THE REALITY IS THAT NEW MINES CONTINUE TO BE REJECTED OR LANGUISH IN PERMITTING LIMBO

“There are a number of new mines and mine extensions on the books. They hold the potential to deliver thousands of new jobs, more revenue for public services and advance economic reconciliation with indigenous communities.”

Without the metals that mining produces, the energy transition needed to address climate change simply can’t happen. While governments around the world have begun to accept that mining will be critical to the energy transition, the reality is that new mines continue to be rejected or languish in permitting limbo.

Mining can have significant impacts on the environment, which is where many mine projects run into trouble in B.C.

Those projects that face opposition from First Nations in B.C. simply don’t get approved. And even projects that do finally get approved can take well over a decade just to get through the various permitting processes.

There are some First Nations in B.C. that support mining, however, notably the Tahltan First Nation in northwest B.C., which explains why so much of the mining exploration spending has been focused in that region over the last decade.

The B.C. government wants to tap Vancouver’s high-tech expertise to help the mining sector address some of its environmental impacts. It also hopes to leverage B.C.’s abundant clean energy to market B.C. minerals and metals – primarily gold, copper and metallurgical coal – as low carbon.

“Our government has taken steps to improve health, safety and environmental compliance, to improve permitting and to support industrial electrification and to advance reconciliation, distinguishing us fairly as leaders in the growing global, environmental, social and governance investment movement,” said Bruce Ralston, B.C. minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

The fact many B.C. mines can operate largely on B.C.’s abundant clean hydro power is something the government and industry is promoting as a kind of green premium.

“In B.C. we have one of the lowest GHG emission intense mines and smelters in the world, producing low carbon metals and minerals the world needs to transition to a low-carbon economy.” Goehring said.

As part of the new roadmap government plans to develop a Mining Innovation Hub.

The roadmap’s primary goals are to:
foster innovation and collaboration;
improve regulations that support innovation;
leverage B.C.’s ESG advantage; and
develop the workforce needed for the mining sector.

(This article first appeared in Business in Vancouver)

POLLUTER PAY? NO WAY!

Over a hundred known, potentially contaminated mine waste sites in British Columbia – NGOs

Valentina Ruiz Leotaud | March 14, 2021 

Aerial view of Mount Polley tailings dam breach in August 2014. 

(Image courtesy of Business in Vancouver).

Two maps produced by SkeenaWild Conservation Trust and the BC Mining Law Reform Network show that there are over a hundred known and potentially contaminated mine waste sites that threaten to pollute waters, fish habitat and communities across the western Canadian province of British Columbia.


In detail, the maps display 173 coal and metal mines across BC, including all major mines as well as historic mines where over 300,000 tonnes of ore were extracted, if production ceased before 1985, or over 10,000 tonnes if production ceased during or after 1985.

The maps also show whether mines are proposed (16), operating (17), in care and maintenance (17), closed/abandoned (84), or historic sites that are being redeveloped for further mining (39).

After gathering the information that makes up the maps, SkeenaWild and the BC Mining Law Reform Network noticed that only two of the 173 sites analyzed are demonstrated to pose no current water contamination threat.

Meanwhile, the data show that 116 of the sites have either already contaminated the surrounding environment, or have the known potential to do so. Acid mine drainage is a concern at 71 sites, many of which will still encounter water contamination issues even if acidic drainage is mitigated.

According to the NGOs, even though 55 of the sites have no publicly available information about their contamination risk, many seem likely to have some contamination concern, given their location and deposit geology.

CLICK ON TO EXPAND

One of the maps produced by SkeenaWild and the BC Mining Law Reform Network.

“Mining poses risks of water contamination from acid mine drainage and heavy metal and pollutant leaching,” the organizations said in a media statement. “At times, this can result in the need for water treatment in perpetuity which can cost taxpayers millions, as with the Britannia Mine that has cost $40 million for clean-up to date and an additional $3 million annually to reduce acid mine drainage and heavy metals from entering Howe Sound.”

An example of the mines depicted on the maps is the closed Tulsequah Chief mine, owned by Chieftain Metals, and which has been leaking acid mine drainage into the Taku watershed near the British Columbia-Alaska border for over 60 years.

ONLY TWO OF THE 173 SITES ON THE MAPS ARE DEMONSTRATED TO POSE NO CURRENT WATER CONTAMINATION THREAT

“As well as being highly acidic, the contaminated water includes copper and zinc, among other contaminants, at levels far exceeding BC Water Quality standards,” the press brief states. “The BC remediation plan was released in 2020 with three different options for controlling and addressing the water contamination issues.”

The estimated cost of dealing with the problem is close to $60 million, with annual costs of over a million. Yet, SkeenaWild and the BCMLRN said the provincial government has collected just over a $1 million reclamation bond for Tulsequah Chief.

Other examples

Other cases highlighted are those of Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley mine, which is under care and maintenance after its tailings pond collapsed on August 4, 2014, spilling 24 million cubic metres of solid and liquid mine wastes into Hazeltine Creek and Quesnel Lake; and Copper Mountain and Mitsubishi’s operating Copper Mountain mine, where seepage from the West dam is currently discharging directly into the Similkameen River at 60 litres/second or 5.2 million litres per day.

Glencore Canada’s Bell and Granisle copper mines, which are closed, have acid rock drainage potential and discharge wastewater directly into the Babine Lake, are also shown on the maps. In the view of the NGOs, this water can contain copper concentrations up to 20x greater than provincial water quality guidelines, as well as a number of other elevated contaminants.

Finally, another case presented on the maps is that of the Elk Valley Watershed, where selenium pollution has been detected from Teck Resources’ mountain-top removal coal mines in the Rocky Mountains, which flows into the Elk River and then into the Kootenay River, hundreds of kilometres downstream through Montana, Idaho and back into BC.

POSTMODERN ALCHEMY

How copper, silver can make swimming pools safer

Valentina Ruiz Leotaud | March 15, 2021

Swimming pool. (Image by Geralt, Pixabay).

US-based researchers have found that using a complementary form of disinfection, known as copper-silver ionization (CSI), can decrease disinfection byproducts and cell toxicity of chlorinated swimming pool water.


In a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the scientists report CSI involves generating antimicrobial copper and silver ions by electrolysis. They say that by combining this technique with reduced chlorine levels, it is possible to make swimming pools safer.

In detail, they tested the ability of CSI to reduce disinfection byproducts (DBPs), which are formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter and compounds introduced by swimmers, such as those in sweat, urine, sunscreens and cosmetics. DBPs have been linked with health problems, including respiratory issues, bladder cancer, and pregnancy and birth complications.

IN INDOOR POOL WATER, THE LOWEST LEVELS OF DBP FORMATION AND TOXICITY WERE OBSERVED WHEN THE LOWEST AMOUNT OF CHLORINE WAS USED IN COMBINATION WITH CSI

The experiment involved collecting water samples from two pools treated with CSI and chlorine –– one outdoor and one indoor. Once they ran their analyses, the team led by Susan Richardson from the University of South Carolina detected 71 DBPs, some of which were quantified for the first time in pools.

In trials with mammalian cells in the lab, they also found that the indoor pool samples were more toxic to cells than the outdoor samples, likely because outdoor DBPs can volatilize in the open air or degrade with sunlight over time. In indoor pool water, the lowest levels of DBP formation and toxicity were observed when the lowest amount of chlorine was used in combination with CSI.

To control for factors such as the number of swimmers, temperature and pH, the researchers also conducted experiments in simulated pools with a solution added that mimics human body fluids, and they observed similar results.

These data suggest that using CSI with lower amounts of chlorine could be a way to make swimming safer.

BAD CANADIAN MINERS

Argentine president targeted by mob

PROTESTERS/ENVIRONMENTALISTS

 fighting to keep out mines

Bloomberg News | March 15, 2021 

Alberto Ángel Fernández. Image source: Twitter.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez had to dodge protesters to get onto a minibus that was then pelted with stones as environmentalists battle a move to give mining the green light in Chubut.


Fernandez was in the Patagonian province to check on efforts to extinguish forest fires. He was caught off guard as protesters seized the opportunity to take their objection to precious-metal mining to the very top of government.

The president was mobbed by protesters but managed to find his way onto the bus, which then had a window smashed by one of the projectiles as it zoomed off. At least six people have been arrested, newspaper La Nacion reported.

CONFLICT SHINES A LIGHT ON A GROWING CHALLENGE FOR MINING COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD AS ESG EXPECTATIONS RISE AMONG INVESTORS, REGULATORS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Argentina has a strong culture of protesting and Fernandez’s predecessor, Maucrio Macri, also had rocks thrown at his car when he was on vacation in 2016.

The latest twist in a yearslong conflict shines a light on a growing challenge for mining companies around the world as environmental, social and governance expectations rise among investors, regulators and the general public. In Peru, community opposition has held back major copper projects. In Mexico, McEwen Mining Inc. has halted work at its El Gallo gold project because of community blockades.

Argentina has huge untapped deposits of lithium, copper, gold and silver. One of the barriers to development is anti-mining sentiment stoked by environmental blemishes such as three cyanide incidents in two years at a Barrick Gold Corp. mine in San Juan province.

With support from a federal government desperate to kick-start the economy, provinces have been working to approve open-pit mining and the use of certain chemicals. In Chubut, Canada’s Pan American Silver Corp. is waiting on lawmakers to allow it to proceed with a $1 billion open pit.

While mining companies are recalibrating their approach to communities and the environment, the pace is too slow for some observers.

In Argentina, it’s the provinces that own mineral resources. Protests have led oil-producing Chubut to delay a parliamentary vote twice this year that would allow mining in two areas. In Mendoza, better known for its Malbec wines, provincial lawmakers actually passed a law in December 2019 to unlock copper mining, but the governor was forced to suspend it following social unrest.

Graves incidentes durante la visita de Alberto Fernández a Chubut: manifestantes atacaron la combi del Presidente https://t.co/DI8wZZyG8T— TN – Todo Noticias (@todonoticias) March 13, 2021

Fernandez flew into the eye of the storm on the weekend. The heart of Argentina’s anti-mining lobby is Esquel, a tourist town at the feet of the Andes where residents and those of nearby communities, including the one visited by Fernandez, voted against mining in a 2003 referendum. (Chubut’s current efforts to push through mining legislation don’t apply to its Andean region.)

The gold project that originally vexed Esquel is now owned by Yamana Gold Inc., which took steps last year to sell a stake to local businessman Eduardo Elsztain and a partner.

(By Jonathan Gilbert)

Electric cars will cost more using ethically sourced batteries

Bloomberg News | March 15, 2021 

Child miners as young as 11 in eastern Congo. (Image by Enough Project, Flickr)

The European Union’s efforts to ethically source a key battery metal face headwinds that could make it more expensive for automakers to go electric.


Cobalt is the battery metal at the highest risk of being exploited in ways that damage the health of people and the environment. Most of the world’s supply comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with as much as a third of that supplied by small-scale miners who often work in dangerous conditions. Regulators have begun developing rules designed to help industry avoid damaging its reputation.

But those “ambitious requirements might currently be too difficult,” according to an assessment prepared by researchers advising the European Commission. The report, which will be published by Elsevier Ltd.’s Resources Policy journal in June, suggests a tightening market for responsibly-sourced cobalt.

“If, as proposed by the European Commission, due diligence on cobalt supply chain will be mandatory for batteries sold in the EU markets in the near future, the demand for responsibly sourced cobalt will increase rapidly,” the study prepared by the EU’s Joint Research Centre said.

Many downstream companies have been reluctant to purchase hand-dug cobalt because of concerns about child labor. Glencore Plc, which operates two of the world’s biggest industrial cobalt mines in Congo, assures its buyers like Tesla Inc. that only responsibly-sourced cobalt feeds into its products.

But some Chinese companies that sell processed cobalt to Europe mix certified streams of the metal with material sourced from unregulated mines, according to the report. Congo produces some three fifths of the world’s cobalt and as much of a third of that is extracted by hundreds of thousands of freelancers. Miners told the researchers that wages and mineral prices continued to be subjects of dispute.

By 2030, EU economies need to secure more than 64,000 tonnes of ethically-sourced cobalt beyond existing supply-chain constraints, a volume of metal worth around $3.2 billion at current prices, to fuel the transition to electric vehicles. The run on the metal’s price is prompting mining companies to seek new reserves from Australia to the deep sea.

(By Jonathan Tirone)

Read more: Cobalt, nickel free electric car batteries are a runaway success