Whack-a-mole! Or, What’s in a Material Anyway?

Updates and an essay on discovering geography and labor in battery development

Aug 21 • 

Ian Morse

10

7

February 2025

El Salvador ban, Nigerian lithium, Industry self-regulation | News Round-up #54

Also Trump fumbling, deep-sea mining wins and losses, Indonesia's nickel glut, and Nambia encountering the resolve of foreign firms.

Feb 6 • 

Ian Morse

8

3

January 2025

The Mining Hop | Book(s) Review

Review of The War Below and Power Metal, two 2024 books that grapple with mining for climate action

Jan 8 • 

Ian Morse

8

3

May 2024

Universalism and Sacrifice | News Round-up #53

And some news about the newsletter.

May 9, 2024 • 

Ian Morse

9

7

March 2024

Fear-mongering in the Cobalt-sphere? | News Round-up #52

In Peru, expansions and an order to pay medical care. In the US, tech companies aren't liable and a copper land swap upheld. In Brazil, regulators ask…

Mar 28, 2024 • 

Ian Morse

8

February 2024

Nickel anxieties & Battery frontiers | News Round-up #51

African leaders urge equitable extraction. Volkswagen allegedly involved with forced labor. London Metal Exchange trades 'criminal property'?

Feb 29, 2024 • 

Ian Morse

5

Batteries that concern the US | News Round-up #50

The US releases guidance on sourcing EV batteries. Battery metal prices take a dive. Scores of deaths at mine sites. Researchers urge greater…

Feb 1, 2024 • 

Ian Morse

7

November 2023

Podcast: Pitfall author Chris Pollon on the need to mine

On the first Green Rocks podcast, I speak with Chris Pollon, author of Pitfall, on material demand, climate justice, and what the mine of the future…

Nov 16, 2023 • 

Ian Morse

5

1

1:15:43

October 2023

Gra-fight! | Climate and mining news round-up #49

China and US wield exports as weapons in a graphite fight. Chinese companies linked to violence at overseas projects. Western companies chasing after…

Oct 26, 2023 • 

Ian Morse

8

September 2023

Climate goes Metal | News Round-up #48

What is Saudi Arabia doing? Plus monk activism, zinc batteries, and how copper can ease a shortfall.

Sep 14, 2023 • 

Ian Morse

4

The journey to responsibly mined lithium

Lithium operations in Chile's salt flats scored high against a tough standard. What does this tell us about achieving sustainable batteries?

Sep 7, 2023 • 

Ian Morse

12

July 2023

Mining green rocks for the climate | Round-up #47

Mining investment deemed green, tensions in Nevada's lithium, and mine workers demand safety and security.

Jul 20, 2023 • 

Ian Morse

7