The Minerals Manhattan Podcast

Emily sits down with Benchmark Mineral Intelligence founder and CEO Simon Moores during their annual flagship event. Simon looks back at Benchmark's journey over the last few years culminating with Arnold Schwarzenegger opening this year's Benchmark Week.Emily and Simon discuss entrepreneurship, Benchmark's role in the energy transition, critical minerals creeping into the mainstream conversation, EVs, AI and their love of 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin'.Simon Moores is a British businessman...

In this episode, we explore the world of direct lithium extraction (DLE) and follow the remarkable journey of E3 Lithium.We delve into the ever-evolving landscape of DLE technology, spotlighting the revolutionary use of "magical beads" for selectively extracting lithium from brine solutions. Joining us is Chris Doornbos, CEO of E3 Lithium, as we dissect the shift in DLE methods driven by factors like efficient loading, rapid kinetics, and effective stripping techniques.Our conversation delves...

Understanding the conditions that led to the formation of lithium deposits is critically important to:· Finding new lithium deposits· Finding the highest grade parts of these discoveries· Figuring out how to process the lithium outDr. Tom Benson is the VP of Global Exploration for Lithium Americas and he is a leader in figuring out lithium geology. He authored a scientific paper on the lithium resources of the McDer...

A special episode with a true lithium legend. In his first ever podcast, Emily sits down with the Lithium Godfather himself, Dr. John Burba. They explore Dr. Burba's storied career from Dow Chemicals to FMC/Livent to Simbol and Molycorp. Incredible career milestones including developing patents and processes to make adsorbant materials and the development of the first ever commercial direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant in Argentina.Episode highlights include Emily getting a lesson in s...

Emily is joined by Chris Berry where in this insightful podcast episode, Chris sheds light on the intricacies of the lithium industry's pricing mechanisms, the significance of transparency, and the interplay between market dynamics and the trajectory of the spodumene market.Chris's insights offer a comprehensive understanding of the lithium industry's ongoing transformation, including the involvement of oil and gas companies, the dynamics of battery recycling and second-life usage, and the co...

Emily is joined by Todd Malan of Talon Metals and they dive into what is shaping, moving and shaking industrial policy in Washington DC. They discuss what's happening to supply chains as we move from a fossil fuel centered energy system to a minerals centered energy system. As Emily and Todd explore the nuances of this transition, they share captivating insights from dual perspectives: that of an investor and a project developer. The conversation zeroes in on key legislative initi...

Emily is joined by Henry Sanderson for a fascinating conversation covering global battery supply chains, geopolitics in the mining sector and the companies that are moving and shaking the global EV market. Highlights include; -Why Chinese Entrepreneurs were spooked by LDK Solar-Chile's Nationalisation Drive within the Lithium Space. The story of Julio Ponce Lerou, SQM and Eduardo Bitrán-China's CATL success story in the global battery and EV space founded by Zeng Yuqun-Volkswagen's earl...

Get ready for an exhilarating episode as host and Luna Lithium CEO Emily Hersh sits down with her friend, mentor and business partner Mike Kobler.Mike Kobler is the founder and former CEO of American Lithium, who discovered the Tonopah Lithium Project. He now runs Global Subsurface Strategies while also finding time to make incredible wine with Kobler Estate Winery. In this candid interview, Mike shares invaluable lessons learned throughout his illustrious career in the mining industry, ...

Join host Emily Hersh and Mitra Chem CEO and Co-Founder Vivas Kumar as they cover topics such as Mitra Chem's core competencies of Speed, Focus and Scale and the changing dynamics between China and the US in the battery industry. They discuss cathode chemistries and batteries as an energy storage technology, the Inflation Reduction Act, a US Manufacturing Boom and everything electrication and EVs. This culminates in what Emily calls the Battery Spiderweb.Emily asks Vivas to make a bold p...

Our host Emily Hersh and Roger Atkins discuss the polymetallic modules containing nickel, manganese, cobalt and copper that can be found on the ocean floor leading to the big question, Are we going to mine the ocean floors?The discussion gives an excellent background and overview of last 23 years with Western Countries and China and how we have arrived at the current state of the global battery arms race.Are the same forces at play within western carmakers that publicly support the...