Some people are asking about the possible connection between farm water curtailment and the high water-needs cobalt mine outside of Salmon, ID.
A quick look at locations of Magic Valley, Snake River, and Salmon, ID shows wide distances between them, but could the aquifers be linked? I don't know. I haven't studied this issue enough to weigh in.
Are you or your readers looking into this connection between water for farming interests vs. water for mining interests?
Update to this comment 6/23/24 @ 10:53am: IDAHO FARMERS ARE IN BIG TROUBLE (6/21/24 - video 15 min 38 sec): Connecting water curtailment and massive water use by cobalt mine and Meta data centers (As A Man Thinketh PODCAST - Making Sense of Agriculture and Society): https://youtu.be/S0GGbz54Y2U?si=fHcM_BXv4T_vxEMm
EXCERPT: "Using global data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS -- https://mrdata.usgs.gov/pp1802/) and WRI’s Aqueduct tool (https://www.wri.org/aqueduct), we found that at least 16% of the world’s land-based critical mineral mines, deposits and districts are located in areas already facing high or extremely high levels of water stress. These are areas where agriculture, industry and households regularly use up much or most of the available water supply. Without proper management, critical minerals mining can be extremely water intensive and polluting, further straining limited freshwater supplies."
EXCERPT: “Jervois Global Limited is an Australia-based supplier of cobalt and nickel, serving both the battery and chemicals markets. The Company’s segments include Australia, Brazil, Finland, United States and Other. The United States segment includes the Idaho Cobalt Operations (ICO) cobalt-copper-gold mine in Lemhi County outside of the town of Salmon, Idaho.” The Financial Times, Profile
Jervois Global was commissioned in Idaho in 2022, but it appears that they have plans to ramp up operations.
“Jervois looks forward to continuing its productive relationship with its regulators, including the US Forest Service, as it examines potential mine expansion within the currently disturbed site footprint.”
This article mentions the Ukraine addition funds, etc.
“Now, Jervois’ focus has pivoted to mining cobalt for aerospace and weapons manufacturing, said Lengerich. The company’s $15 million agreement with the U.S. government will reimburse Jervois using money from the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act passed by Congress this year.”
Some people are asking about the possible connection between farm water curtailment and the high water-needs cobalt mine outside of Salmon, ID.
A quick look at locations of Magic Valley, Snake River, and Salmon, ID shows wide distances between them, but could the aquifers be linked? I don't know. I haven't studied this issue enough to weigh in.
Are you or your readers looking into this connection between water for farming interests vs. water for mining interests?
Update to this comment 6/23/24 @ 10:53am: IDAHO FARMERS ARE IN BIG TROUBLE (6/21/24 - video 15 min 38 sec): Connecting water curtailment and massive water use by cobalt mine and Meta data centers (As A Man Thinketh PODCAST - Making Sense of Agriculture and Society): https://youtu.be/S0GGbz54Y2U?si=fHcM_BXv4T_vxEMm
Update 6.23.24 11:47am - Another possible connection (less direct) with a SCOTUS ruling on Texas water case: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-responds-scotus-decision-allowing-biden-administration-prevent
NOTE: The first article is from 2024, the last two are from 2022 and 2023, respectively.
___________ Article 1 __________
More Critical Minerals Mining Could Strain Water Supplies in Stressed Regions (01/10/24): https://www.wri.org/insights/critical-minerals-mining-water-impacts
EXCERPT: "Using global data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS -- https://mrdata.usgs.gov/pp1802/) and WRI’s Aqueduct tool (https://www.wri.org/aqueduct), we found that at least 16% of the world’s land-based critical mineral mines, deposits and districts are located in areas already facing high or extremely high levels of water stress. These are areas where agriculture, industry and households regularly use up much or most of the available water supply. Without proper management, critical minerals mining can be extremely water intensive and polluting, further straining limited freshwater supplies."
___________ Article 2 __________
Jervois begins commissioning Idaho Cobalt Operations mine (10/10/22): https://www.mining-technology.com/news/jervois-commissioning-cobalt/
EXCERPT: “Jervois Global Limited is an Australia-based supplier of cobalt and nickel, serving both the battery and chemicals markets. The Company’s segments include Australia, Brazil, Finland, United States and Other. The United States segment includes the Idaho Cobalt Operations (ICO) cobalt-copper-gold mine in Lemhi County outside of the town of Salmon, Idaho.” The Financial Times, Profile
Jervois Global was commissioned in Idaho in 2022, but it appears that they have plans to ramp up operations.
“Jervois looks forward to continuing its productive relationship with its regulators, including the US Forest Service, as it examines potential mine expansion within the currently disturbed site footprint.”
___________ Article 3 __________
EXCERPT: Jervois enters $15M agreement with U.S. military to accelerate cobalt exploration, extraction in central Idaho. Drilling to begin next week (9/1/23): https://www.mtexpress.com/news/business/jervois-enters-15m-agreement-with-u-s-military-to-accelerate-cobalt-exploration-extraction-in-central/article_6c0aae0a-4839-11ee-8217-3764ec4a7b85.html
This article mentions the Ukraine addition funds, etc.
“Now, Jervois’ focus has pivoted to mining cobalt for aerospace and weapons manufacturing, said Lengerich. The company’s $15 million agreement with the U.S. government will reimburse Jervois using money from the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act passed by Congress this year.”