I thought I would share some snippets and posts and thoughts from over the last 2 years in light of this amazing announcement...
PART 2
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IBM Unveil first workable graphene chip - This is REAL Genius
The announcer made fun of this chip but if anyone understands the pace of development they will understand that it is a short road from here to paper thin Ipads and wearable computers and so much more. For Example:
Samsung promises a game changer in chip design
http://www.itworld.com/science/413480/samsung-promises-game-changer-chip-design
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Probing graphene physics
http://hotcopper.com.au/threads/mrl-corporation-probing-graphene-physics.2519328/#post-15313936
Graphene and Vein Graphite
http://hotcopper.com.au/threads/graphene-and-vein-graphite.2388767/page-2#post-14242737
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Graphite -- A World Changing Mineral
Tesla battery plant will need 6 new flake graphite mines!
http://www.mining.com/web/tesla-battery-plant-will-need-6-new-flake-graphite-mines/
The numbers don't lie: Why the industrial minerals sector is here to stay!
http://www.mining.com/web/the-numbers-dont-lie-why-the-industrial-minerals-sector-is-here-to-stay/
Well Positioned for 'The Next Big Thing' in Graphite
http://www.mining.com/web/focus-graphite-inc-well-positioned-for-the-next-big-thing-in-graphite/
Now compare this demand and doubling of demand over the next 6 years with the global demand for Vein Graphite...
Industry:
Best Graphite Play? Investor Icon Jim Rogers Thinks So
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/best-graphite-play-investor-icon-jim-rogers-thinks-so-2014-03-05
The Rise of Graphene
http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/v6/n3/abs/nmat1849.html
New technologies give future of graphite a fillip
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/bus...aphite-a-fillip/story-e6frg9df-1226863684959#
In Mining - Just As In Life - Timing Is Everything
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/in-mining-just-as-in-life-timing-is-everything-2014-02-27
New reliable source of graphene products announced at Berlin show
http://www.printedelectronicsworld....unced-at-berlin-show-00006381.asp?sessionid=1
What is graphene and why did George Osborne include it in the 2014 budget?
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/comp...-george-osborne-include-it-in-the-2014-budget
Peer Overview:
http://investorintel.com/graphite-graphene-news/
Grafoid secures significant partnership with one of the largest companies in Japan — Mitsui Co. Ltd.
http://investorintel.com/graphite-graphene-intel/grafoid-strikes-strategic-partnership-japan/
Technology:
Graphite market readies for gamechanger with Tesla battery factory plans
http://www.stockhouse.com/news/natu...-gamechanger-with-tesla-battery-factory-plans
Electric-Car Batteries, Graphite, And Pollution In China
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1091060_electric-car-batteries-graphite-and-pollution-in-china
Pollution concerns in China could raise lithium-ion battery prices
http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/20/5...tteries-are-leading-to-polluted-rain-in-china
Controlling the Electronic Structure of Bi-layer Graphene
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/313/5789/951.short
Large-scale pattern growth of graphene films for stretchable transparent electrodes
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v457/n7230/abs/nature07719.html
Science:
Graphene-based Composite Materials
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7100/abs/nature04969.html
Two-dimensional gas of massless Dirac fermions in Graphene
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7065/abs/nature04233.html
http://grapheneupdate.com/publications/raman-spectroscopy.html
Experimental observation of the quantum Hall effect and Berry's phase in Graphene
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7065/abs/nature04235.html
Scientists discover potential way to make Graphene Superconducting!
http://www.spacedaily.com/report/Sc...way_to_make_graphene_superconducting_999.html
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There are reasons why in my opinion MRL is my pick, as well as general principles that I like to look for in the industry.
1/ The U.S.A. is a 100% importer of Graphite, and has recently joined China and the European Union in classifying Graphite as a critical strategic material. This has far reaching consequences in my opinion.
2/ A further 344km2 are currently under application for licence. Assets are value.
3/ Very little upgrading and processing is required to make a high-quality saleable product with Vein Graphite.
4/ Vein graphite is the rarest, most valuable form of natural Graphite. A true safe haven commodity. The Vein Graphite difference from flake is its crystal structure, the end-users use it in specific applications, it is the most competitive with China.
5/ Large tons of graphite don't actually impress as much as you might think. Finding buyers for all those tons is a massive hurdle.
6/ Smaller projects that hit revenue targets are intrinsically valuable. MRL has set sound, achievable targets and that extrapolates into revenue targets.
7/ Supply shortages are to be expected by 2020. A predicted shortage of 100k to 130k tons per year as demand by the BRIC nations expands.
8/ End-users purify lower-grade graphite in-house to save costs and to pay mines less.
9/ End-users are starting large volume buying again after the 2012 dip.
10/ Graphiters are quicker to market all round beating out base and precious metals.
11/ It is easier for small companies to adapt and change to meet their end-users product specifications, allowing them to set the higher price. Larger companies often have invested in one set of specifications and find the costs of changing exorbitant.
12/ Vein Graphite is special, many graphiters face large metallurgical processing costs the Vein does not have. Low cost plays a part whether or not to invest long or short. If the costs are high that has to weigh upon decisions because delays snag up confidence.
13/ MRL can keep capital costs low, this is very important to see in the budget and the management. Paying in shares to keep the management strong is one of the best ways to keep down capital costs. Another is mining in an emerging nation with tax and currency advantages.
14/ Vein graphite is a niche market supplied only by Sri Lanka. Graphiters are at the mercy of the End-users because they have specific requirements from their input material to their finished product and any change to the production line costs. End-users favor smaller tons of Graphite that meet their needs and will favor MRL for that alone.
15/ MRL is not beholden to anyone but the shareholders, they have excellent kingmakers CPS Group Capital and can make JV's and deals with End-users early on in the exploration, mining and shipping steps that they must take.
16/ Whenever low-cost production can be sold at the premium without delays revenue follows.
IRR - Internal Rate of Return....
Small consistent tons allows for one single customers. Multiple customers multiple headaches.
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Well that's my
jaunt down memory lane because I think it is good to refresh our thinking and knowledge in my opinion...
Also it is fun!
I left out all my crazy stuff ! Believe me there is some doozies!
Taking it all in and then looking at this new announcement and that is why I am predicting positive outcomes. Who knows though; it is easy to make mistakes and be 100% wrong...
Kind Regards
DYOR !!!