Avrupa Minerals (CVE:AVU) reported Tuesday phase 2 drilling results from its Covas tungsten joint venture project in northern Portugal, saying the campaign expanded zones of tungsten mineralization in each of the four areas tested while also discovering a new zone.

The project is operated by Avrupa and fully funded by Blackheath Resources (CVE:BHR) under a joint venture agreement signed back in 2011. Blackheath has already earned a 51% stake in the property, and is now close to securing 70%, which requires an additional expense of 700,000 euros by March 20.

Blackheath can also earn a further 15% stake, for a total 85% interest, by funding an NI 43-101 compliant pre-feasibility study by March 20, 2016.

Of the highlights from the phase 2 program, the company returned 3.05 metres of 1.26% tungsten, including 1.05 metres of 2.07%, starting at a depth of 12.75 metres.

Avrupa said that drilling at Castelo extended tungsten mineralization in both the southwest and southeast directions, in previously unexplored areas.

The phase 2 program was comprised of 14 diamond drill holes, drilled in four different target zones -- Muito Seco, Lapa Grande, Telheira, Castelo -- and a new zone lying between the historic Cerdeirinha Pit area and the Muito Seco zone.

The company said that results from both the first and second phase of drilling "clearly indicate" that there is further potential for expansion at all five target areas, as well as for discovery of new mineralization near and around the known mineralized zones.
It added that there are still a number of outstanding, under-explored target areas around the Skarn Ring, as well as in the Covas Dome, itself.

"We are pleased and encouraged with the overall results from the Phase 2 drilling at Covas. We were able to expand and upgrade a number of important target areas," said president and CEO Paul W. Kuhn.

"Our follow-up geological and structural analyses of the new work, combined with all of the historic data, allows us to better target potential high grade tungsten zones, as well as target further expansions of known mineralization.

"We look forward to using this information to plan for Phase 3 drilling, which will bring the JV closer to the goal of completing a NI 43-101 resource estimate for the project."

Covas is a past-producing tungsten mine, and remaining historic resources on the property have been estimated at 922,900 metric tonnes of 0.78% tungsten by Union Carbide in 1980, based on work including 327 drill holes on the property. Mineralization is open to expansion.

Avrupa, which has properties in Portugal, Kosovo and Germany that it is working to joint venture, holds a total of 15 exploration licenses in these European countries, including nine in Portugal. It operates three joint ventures in Portugal, including the Covas partnership and the Alvalade joint venture with Antofagasta Minerals in the southern part of the country. It also recently signed a term sheet to option out its Slivovo project in Kosovo, in a deal with Australia's Byrnecut International.

Aside from preparing its properties for potential joint ventures this year, Avrupa is also looking to add projects in new areas to its exploration pipeline, and drop assets that do not meet joint venture criteria, it said.


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During those snowy area, it has always been a trouble for cars running on roads covered by the snow until the winter tires came out, which has tungsten carbide studs on the tire. The following is an article from John Phillips: Winter tires? Yes, Have Some—Please

Now that I live at the end of a 1.75-mile gravel driveway cut rudely into the side of a mountain, I’ve gladly installed winter tires—don’t even think of calling them “snow tires”—on five different SUVs in the last 13 months. Four sets were attached to C/D’s long-termers, and one set of Toyo Observe GSi-5s now adorns my wife’s Toyota RAV4. The Toyos look like the raised hackles on a hyena.

Work is underway on a new facility in Depew that will provide tungsten as a raw material to two companies, including one in Japan.

Last November, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. announced the start of tungsten refining and scrap recycling operations in the U.S.

Sumitomo Electric Carbide Inc., a subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric, and New York Tungsten LLC, a subsidiary of Buffalo Tungsten Inc., a tungsten powder producer in Depew, established a joint venture company, Niagara Refining LLC, a hydrometallurgy plant that will produce tungsten trioxide - referred to as WO3 - from raw ore as well as recycled material.

Niagara Refining President Roger Showalter said construction of the new plant at 5661 Transit Road in Depew, located at the same facility as Buffalo Tungsten, has been underway for two years.

They've begun commissioning some equipment and expect startup in April. The plant won't be completed, he said, until later this year.

He described the process that will take place there as using chemistry to refine metals.

"We'll be processing metals in a chemical (solution) form," Showalter said. "We're processing raw materials, metal in a chemical form. You dissolve it, and put it in water-based solution and treat it to remove impurities."

Showalter's family owns Buffalo Tungsten which, according to its website, dates to 1987. Buffalo Tungsten employs around 60, and Niagara Refining about 30. Showalter said he anticipates hiring around 20 more in the coming months.

Tungsten is the primary raw material in carbide cutting tools and is categorized as a rare metal. In the past, Sumitomo Electric has mostly relied upon import for its tungsten supply. Since tungsten is found in only a limited number of countries, and its supply is highly volatile.

Showalter said the joint venture was necessary because both Buffalo Tungsten and Sumitomo wanted the same raw material, but wanted to do so independently of foreign producers.

Until the joint venture, Sumitomo had been importing WO3 from China and other countries to produce tungsten carbide powder as a raw material for carbide tools. It has also been engaged in tungsten scrap recycling at their Toyama, Japan plant since 2011. With the start of the new Depew operation, Sumitomo Electric will be able to produce raw materials for tungsten by refining tungsten ore from tungsten mines, and recycling scrap collected from the market.

Sumitomo Electric will accelerate its activities to facilitate a stable supply of tungsten raw materials, utilizing WO3 production at Niagara Refining and its own tungsten carbide powder production.

According to Sumitomo's website, doing so will allow them to control the supply chain from raw materials all the way to the finished product, which will make the company more competitive.


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Maddock Construction Equipment LLC has a new addition to the Backhoe Mill line of tungsten carbide milling attachments. The EM48 attachment has a 48 in. (122 cm) cutting width, 11 in. (28 cm) cutting depth and can be pre-set to cutting depths from flush to full depth in ½ in. (1.3 cm) increments.

The EM48 is powered by the excavator hydraulic system and gives the operator clear view of the work area. It uses standard ¾ in. (1.9 cm) shank tungsten carbide cutter bits and can cut asphalt, concrete and rock, such as limestone. Its ability to cut above and below grade allows the EM48 to cut walls and in trenches. An optional water spray system directs small water streams into the drum housing to help control dust.

Hind High Vacuum (HHV) has developed a Tungsten Carbide (WC) tools recycling plant.

Nagarjun Sakhamuri, Managing Director of HHV, said: “HHV has been designing, developing and commissioning tungsten carbide tools recycling systems for global tooling leaders for more than two decades. This is a major accomplishment for HHV and our team at Bangalore as it is made with in-house engineering and design.”

HHV, established in 1965 at Bangalore to develop Indian self-reliance in high vacuum technology, has been involved in the design, development and manufacture of off-the-shelf and customised equipment and products based on vacuum science and technology.

“The advancement in power metallurgy has led to the development of high performance special tools made of tungsten carbide. These tools are used in a variety of applications like drilling, cutting, boring,” Sakhamuri said.


Tungsten Carbide Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.tungsten-carbide.com.cn
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Please note we will have Chinese Spring Festival Holiday from January 30, 2014 to February 7, 2014, and will be back at your service on February 8, 2014.
Thank you for your attention!


Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
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Hardide Coatings has appointed Ioan Jones as laboratory manager and Oliver Jones as pre-treatment specialist, part of its tungsten carbide team.

As laboratory manager of Hardide Coatings, Ioan Jones will focus on analysis, development and improvement of existing production processes, as well as new procedures and applications for Hardide coatings. Joining from Norma UK, he has an extensive background in metallurgy.

Oliver Jones has experience in developing plating processes. His pre-treatment specialist role at Hardide Coatings will include creating new pre-treatment methods and improving and adapting the existing processes to new types of steel and alloys.

“We are pleased to welcome Ioan and Oliver; their skills will be a great addition to the laboratory and they will play an important part in the advancement of our surface engineering offering going forward,” said Hardide plc CEO Philip Kirkham.

Hardide Coatings recently developed an innovative coating for TSP (thermally stable polycrystalline) diamonds to extend the life and improve the performance of drilling tools operating in extremely abrasive environments. The company has also solved the hard chrome plating problem with Hardide-A, which meets the EU and US environmental standards that will soon see toxic hard chrome plating restricted or banned.


Tungsten Carbide Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.tungsten-carbide.com.cn
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Hardide Coatings, the provider of advanced surface coating technology, has made two key appointments to bolster its team focused on developing tungsten carbide based engineering solutions.

Ioan Jones takes up the post of laboratory manager and Oliver Jones has been brought in as pre-treatment specialist. The duo will complement the current team of 29 staff, bringing additional metallurgy and chemistry expertise to the company.

As laboratory manager, Ioan will focus on analysis, development and improvement of existing production processes, as well as new procedures and applications for Hardide coatings. Joining from Norma UK, he has an extensive background in metallurgy and has previously held positions with ASAMS Ltd, Aero Engine Controls, and spent thirty years in nuclear research with AWE Aldermaston.

Oliver joins from MacDermid Limited with experience in developing plating processes, following completion of an MSc Chemistry last year. His pre-treatment specialist role at Hardide Coatings will include creating new pre-treatment methods and improving and adapting the existing processes to new types of steel and alloys. Pre-treatment is a vital part of the production route for Hardide coatings.

Hardide Coatings, provider of advanced surface coating technology, has made two key appointments to bolster its team focused on developing tungsten carbide based engineering solutions.

Ioan Jones takes up the post of laboratory manager and Oliver Jones has been brought in as pre-treatment specialist. The duo will complement the current team of 29 staff, bringing additional metallurgy and chemistry expertise to the company.

Today, Kahtoola, a leading innovator in outdoor footwear traction, proudly announces the launch of their newest product - NANOspikes™ footwear traction, with tungsten carbide studs under the bottom.

Created specifically with runners in mind, NANOspikes™ offer lightweight, trim, durable and comfortable traction that easily slips over any running shoe; making it possible to jog, sprint, train and walk securely in any weather condition.