Industry and Information Bulletins

In our ongoing efforts to provide you with broader communications and industry information, we are pleased to issue another Industry Bulletin discussing recent trends in the markets of various rare and strategic metals.  In this edition, we announce the establishment of raremetalblog.com and highlight the recent flurry of discussion around the adequacy of long-term lithium supplies to meet the anticipated growth in demand from the automotive sector for rechargeable batteries. 

At two recent conferences organized to address this issue, the lithium mining industry essentially laid any supply concerns to rest. Lithium resources are considered more than adequate and producers are confident of their ability to ramp up production rates to accommodate any surge in demand from the automotive sector. Avalon Ventures was invited to speak at both events held in Charlotte, NC and Santiago, Chile.

In early December, David Trueman, Ph.D., P.Geo, a consulting geologist to Avalon, presented a paper entitled A New Low-Cost Source of Lithium Minerals for Industry, at the ´by invitation only´ Lithium Workshop convened in Charlotte, NC by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Thirty international guests were invited, representing a wide range of important battery suppliers, raw material suppliers, chemical producers, and government policy advisors and administrators.

Dr. Trueman´s presentation highlighted the key characteristics and the Company´s plans for its Big Whopper Lithium Pegmatite Project at Separation Rapids, as well as other potential lithium pegmatite properties across Canada. Dr. Trueman also shared several interesting insights in discussions around growing contribution of mineral deposits as sources of lithium and made the point that lithium-rich pegmatites are not uncommon and there is considerable potential for new discoveries should demand stimulate increased exploration.  

Dr. Trueman´s presentation can be found on Avalon´s website at: 

Feb 9, 2009 - IEA Lithium Supply Workshop Presentation, North Carolina

More recently, Avalon presented a paper entitled Batch Solutions to Reduce Energy Demand and Carbon Footprint in Glassmaking at Industrial Minerals inaugural Lithium Supply and Markets 2009 Conference in Santiago, Chile (Jan 26-28).  The paper was co-authored by Ian London, Avalon´s Vice-President, Market Development, with Charles Merivale of Amalgamet Canada and Don Hains of Hains Technologies, both consultants to Avalon. The presentation discusses the merits of lithium as an additive to glass batch composition, for its ability to lower melting temperatures thereby reducing energy intensity and Greenhouse gas "GHG" emissions while offering higher brightness and product strength improvement. The presentation also shared some of the Avalon´s experience with a successful furnace trial of its calcium feldspar product from the Warren township project with a major US glassmaker, demonstrating a practical approach and ability to implement change within a traditional industry.

Copies of the Santiago presentation and technical paper can also be found on Avalon´s website, at:

Feb 9, 2009 - IM Lithium Supply Conference Presentation, Santiago Chile

Feb 9, 2009 - Batch Solutions for Glass Makers Technical Paper, Santiago Chile

Rare Metals Blog

Avalon, in collaboration with its new investor relations consultants Pro-edge Consultants Inc., has recently established a blog to provide a forum on the internet for information and discussion on the rare metals including emerging uses and supply/demand trends. Readers are invited to visit this new blog at:

www.raremetalblog.com

If you have any comments or questions on lithium or any of the other rare metals, please do not hesitate to post them on the blog or feel free to contact the company directly at office@avalonventures.com

lithium car-battery pack

lithium in ceramics

lithium battery