The hottest Metals Substack posts right now

Over long periods most commodities—especially agricultural products and many minerals—have become cheaper in real terms because production technologies and processes improved and scaled up.
In the last few decades that trend has weakened or reversed: oil, natural gas, beef, pork, and many crops have tended to rise in price since about 2000.
Whether a commodity gets cheaper over time depends on how much its production can be automated and expanded (which pushes prices down) versus being limited by depletion, extraction difficulty, cartels, policy, or demand shocks (which push prices up).

Copper was fairly inactive for about a decade, but interest and market attention have suddenly spiked.
There’s growing hype that future supply will fall far short of demand, which supporters say could trigger a copper 'supercycle'.
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Niobium is a versatile material with unique properties like superconductivity and strength.
Thermal runaway in batteries can be analyzed and mitigated using tools like differential scanning calorimetry.
90% of niobium is used in steelmaking, but it has potential in battery technology for durability and fast charging.

King Tut's iron dagger made from a meteorite was more valuable than his gold one, showcasing the significance of minerals in history and power.
Ancient Egypt's peak power was not during the time of the pyramids, but between 1550 BC and 1200 BC when they were a Great Power expanding their empire.
Minerals like tin were crucial for advancements like bronze, highlighting their importance in shaping ancient civilizations and trade patterns.

Raiders are targeting old shipwrecks to obtain low background steel, a rare metal free of radiation.
Steel made before 1945 is valuable for products sensitive to radiation due to its lack of radionuclides.
Despite advancements in reducing radiation in steel, there is still interest in obtaining pre-1945 steel for specific uses.

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Copper is a vital metal in our daily lives, but it is becoming harder to obtain in high quantities due to diminishing natural resources.
In the past, there were radical ideas, like using nuclear weapons for mining copper, but technological advancements in mining techniques eventually proved more effective.
Innovation in mining methods has been a gradual process, leading to better extraction of metals like copper, making them more accessible and affordable over time.