Scientists, policymakers and thought leaders have been dreaming of and planning for a green future for a very long time. It has always been a compelling idea — sustainable, zero-emissions energy — and today, we can see the dream becoming a reality in many advanced economies.
We have also learned that the transition will not be easy, and that the development of cutting-edge green technology relies upon some old-fashioned, traditional industries. Among these is mining.
There have been times in the history of science when it seemed that a future of abundant, clean energy would arrive suddenly, with a single discovery. In 1989, newspaper headlines around the world announced what seemed to be such a breakthrough: Scientists had discovered cold fusion.
This technology offered a potential answer to all of our energy needs – unlimited power generated from a room-temperature nuclear reaction that carried no risk and created zero hazardous waste.
Electrochemists Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons described an experiment involving electrolysis of heavy water on the surface of a palladium electrode which had generated small amounts of heat. However, these exciting, potentially revolutionary results could never be replicated by other researchers. Within a few short months, Fleischmann and Pons went from international sensations to embarrassing footnotes in the history of science.
That brings us to the current scientific reality, where we’re facing a long and complicated process to achieve our dream of a green future. One of the key components of this future is the adoption of electric vehicles at scale. These vehicles require an array of metals, many of them rare, as well as a brand new, extensive network of charging stations. Other green initiatives, such as solar panels, wind turbines and electrical storage equipment all rely on the discoveries and extractions of the mining industry.
In this industry, significant supply issues are setting practical limits on how fast and far the green revolution can proceed. Green technologies need a greatly expanded supply of critical metals to meet the growing demand.
The most critical metals include copper, silicon, aluminum, lithium, cobalt, rare earths and silver. These metals and minerals are essential to making green energy practical and cost-efficient. Every electric vehicle is powered by a battery that requires lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite and nickel. Charging stations, wind turbines, solar panels and grid-scale energy storage technologies rely on combinations of copper, silver, aluminum, zinc, silicon and rare earth metals.
This is where mining pioneers like Vancouver’s Mark Morabito play a central role. With shortages of many vital metals already apparent, his resource development companies are working to meet the present and future demand.
Morabito has invested in and developed several key exploratory projects that are focused on widening the supply of essential metals. In southeastern Arizona, Intrepid Metals Corp. currently oversees three projects that are moving from advanced exploration stage ventures to thorough feasibility-level studies. Its teams have identified extensive deposits of copper, silver, zinc and gold.
Morabito’s newest venture, Excalibur Metals Corp, concentrates on mining opportunities in Idaho and Nevada. In Nye County, Nevada, Excalibur is exploring for new deposits of silver and gold in a historically resource-rich area. In southwestern Idaho, Excalibur is moving quickly to become part of the emerging success story of the so-called “precious metals geological belt segment.” Its Silver Rock Project is focusing on exploration and development of historic mines, including a high-grade silver camp in the region.
Once fully developed, these sites will offer both quantity and quality, especially for the high-end metals that are in such high demand by companies focused on applying advanced green technologies. Morabito’s discoveries promise to increase the supply of critical metals that are essential to producing clean energy. With continued exploration and growth, these discoveries can help to expand green energy beyond the power grid into vehicles, homes and industries.
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