There's an unexpected benefit from the boom in battery metals mining — it's going to boost production of scandium, an obscure element whose long-held promise to transform manufacturing of planes and cars has been stalled by a lack of supply.
The silver-white metal, found in higher concentrations in moon rocks than on Earth, can be added to aluminum to make alloys that are lighter, stronger and more malleable. These can dramatically reduce the weight of parts for aircraft, cars or ships and help deliver savings on fuel costs.
"It's the single most potent strengthening element you can add to aluminum," said John Carr, vice president for business development and scandium marketing at Clean TeQ Holdings Ltd., an Australian developer of a mine that is set to produce the metal alongside cobalt and nickel for the battery sector. "Why scandium is so interesting is that if you add very, very small amounts of it, it has amazing impacts."
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