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Featured Blog - www.ecojeweller.org

RECYCLING RICHES


Cellphone mining - the new high grade gold source

From: http://www.mineweb.com

Gold prices have soared since this article, the firm that is referred to is  http://www.dowa-eco.co

Modern electronic products, notably used cellphones, have become an important source for metals recycling - at grades far higher than the average mine.
Author: Miho Yoshikawa
Posted:  Sunday , 27 Apr 2008
HONJO (Reuters) - 
Thinking of throwing out your old cell phone? Think again. Maybe you should mine it first for gold, silver, copper and a host of other metals embedded in the electronics -- many of which are enjoying near-record prices.
It's called "urban mining", scavenging through the scrap metal in old electronic products in search of such gems as iridium and gold, and it is a growth industry around the world as metal prices skyrocket.
The materials recovered are reused in new electronics parts and the gold and other precious metals are melted down and sold as ingots to jewellers and investors as well as back to manufacturers who use gold in the circuit boards of mobile phones because gold conducts electricity even better than copper.
"It can be precious or minor metals, we want to recycle whatever we can," said Tadahiko Sekigawa, president of Eco-System Recycling Co which is owned by Dowa Holdings Co Ltd.
A tonne of ore from a gold mine produces just 5 grams (0.18 ounce) of gold on average, whereas a tonne of discarded mobile phones can yield 150 grams (5.3 ounce) or more, according to a study by Yokohama Metal Co Ltd, another recycling firm.
The same volume of discarded mobile phones also contains around 100 kg (220 lb) of copper and 3 kg (6.6 lb) of silver, among other metals.
Recycling has gained in importance as metals prices hit record highs. Gold is trading at around $890 an ounce, after hitting a historic high of $1,030.80 in March.
Copper and tin are also around record highs and silver prices are well above long term averages.
RECYCLING METALS
Recycling electronics makes sense for Japan which has few natural resources to feed its billion dollar electronics industry but does have tens of millions of old cell phones and other obsolete consumer electronic gadgets thrown away every year.
"To some it's just a mountain of garbage, but for others it's a gold mine," said Nozomu Yamanaka, manager of the Eco-Systems recycling plant where mounds of discarded cell phones and other electronics gadgets are taken apart for their metal value.
At the factory in Honjo, 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Tokyo, 34-year-old Susumu Arai harvests some of that bounty.
A ribbon of molten gold flows into a mould where it sizzles and spits fire for a few minutes before solidifying into a dull yellow slab, on its way to becoming a 3 kg (6.6 lb) gold bar, worth around $90,000 at current prices.
Wearing plastic goggles to protect his eyes while he works, Arai said he was awestruck when he started his job two years ago.
"Now I find it fun being able to recover not just gold, but all sorts of metals," he said.
The scrap electronics and other industrial waste is first sorted and dismantled by hand. It is then immersed in chemicals to dissolve unwanted materials and the remaining metal is refined.
Eco-System, established 20 years ago near Tokyo, typically produces about 200-300 kg (440-660 lb) of gold bars a month with a 99.99 percent purity, worth about $5.9 million to $8.8 million.
That's about the same output as a small gold mine.
Eco-System also recovers metals from old memory chips, cables and even black ink which contain silver and palladium.
RECYCLING CELL PHONES
But despite growing interest in the environment and recycling, the industry struggles to get enough old mobile phones to feed its recycling plants.
Japan's 128 million population uses their cell phones for an average of two years and eight months.
That's a lot of cell phone phones discarded every year, yet only 10-20 percent are recycled as people often opt to store them in their cupboards due to concerns about the personal data on their phones, said Yoshinori Yajima, a director at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Just 558 tonnes of old phones were collected for recycling in the year to March 2007, down a third from three years earlier, industry figures show.
As metals prices rise, the Japanese industry faces growing competition for scrap, which is pushing up prices.
"We are seeing more competition from Chinese firms, and naturally the goods go where the money is," Dowa's Takashi Morise said.
In response, Japanese firms are importing used circuit boards from Singapore and Indonesia, as they also contain valuable minor metals that Japan is particularly eager to recover.
These minor metals such as indium, a vital component in the production of flat panel televisions and computer screens, antimony and bismuth are indispensable for producing many high-tech products.
However, they are often not easy to acquire as China has tightened export controls, making it harder for Japanese manufacturers to buy these metals.
That's where the "urban miners" step in.
"Our wish is to be able to help Japanese manufacturers that need these metals," Eco-System President Sekigawa said.
(Editing by Nick Trevethan and Megan Goldin)
($1=101.96 Yen)
 

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Featured Jewellers

The slide show features the work of some of our newer members.
Just click on the images and follow the links to their pages.

Blog Posts

Marthe Le Van

Deadline Reminder: 500 Silver Jewelry Designs

Only two weeks left...

Submissions must be POSTMARKED by December 4, 2009.

Lark Books seeks images to publish in a juried collection of international studio jewelry. 500 Silver Jewelry Designs, juried by Talya Baharal, is a 420-page, full color survey of contemporary jewelers prominently featuring silver in their designs. This international collection will be beautifully presented and widely distributed throughout the world.

All jewelry forms, such as rings, bracelets, ne… Continue

Posted by Marthe Le Van on November 21, 2009 at 1:58am

Malcolm Enright

Green Jewellery and Objects Symposium - Friday 13 November 2009

"Many aspects of our lives are being reviewed and adjusted in the light of raised environmental and cultural awareness, but where and how do you start to rethink your practice" - the blurb asks. Our mates Christine Dhein was in town and Cathy Salter of Kit and Caboodle fame dropped into the Jeweller to the Lost studio for lunch after the first morning session.


L–R: Juan-Luis Gon… Continue

Posted by Malcolm Enright on November 17, 2009 at 8:30am

Malcolm Enright

The before and after shots of the Barbara Heath - Hero piece used in our Christmas mailer for 2009



I see and scan every piece that is made in the studio, on some occasions I just have to do work-in-progress shots. With this brooch/pendant, the wax to cast silver and then oxidisation and pin back - I scanned the piece before the buttons were set in place (just cause I could), so much of the beauty is hidden, I believe. Barbara on the other hand only wants the final piece to be show… Continue

Posted by Malcolm Enright on November 12, 2009 at 10:00am

Malcolm Enright

Here is the Barbara Heath - Studio Sale mailer for 2009

Everyone who dares to commission is rewarded once a year. The invites go out in the mail to commissioners only, retailer's stock is returned and run-out to make way for next year's new makes. Everyone wins! Some customers only come once a year, others never do sales but in the main it is down to the hard-core followers, elbow to elbow in air-conditioned comfort. There are also two or three customers who assist with managing the mayhem, lets face it they know every style - every gem and the tags… Continue

Posted by Malcolm Enright on November 12, 2009 at 10:41am

JamFactory

Cook & Co: Antiquities for the Future - Octavia Cook



Octavia Cook – new jewellery
Cook and Co was self consciously established in 2003 as a fictitious and irreverent family jewellery company for the aggrandisement of Cook and her ideas. This it has proven to be, and it has become what is more, a valuable tool by which she… Continue

Posted by JamFactory on November 12, 2009 at 12:36pm

e.g.etal

Arcade by Cassandra Partington



Cassandra Partington has produced a new range for e.g.etal called Arcade, where gems become pixels. An array of coloured stones are set in playful arrangements on a simple grid, drawing reference to seminal arcade classics such as Space Invaders, Pac Man and Tetris, a… Continue

Posted by e.g.etal on November 9, 2009 at 9:06am

Brenda Factor

The Sampled Self


Trophies (from the Family Portrait Series), silicone, 2008 + Image Luminere Imaging

Brenda Factor
The Sampled Self
Opening drinks Wednesday 11 November 2009, 5.30 – 7.30pm
at COFAspace.
The exhibition can be viewed - Tuesday 10 November, 1pm - 6pm
Wednesday 11 & Thursday 12 November, 11am to 6pm… Continue

Posted by Brenda Factor on November 5, 2009 at 12:22pm

Emily Snadden

artifex



You are invited to view artifex, works by current and graduating students from CSU Bachelor of Arts (Jewellery) & Master of Arts Practice (Jewellery Design and Production). Including works by: BA (Jewellery) Graduates, Jessamy Pollock & Nina Baker (Current and graduating Masters) Rhys Tu
Continue

Posted by Emily Snadden on November 4, 2009 at 7:00pm

Metalab

Jane Bowden and Melissa Cameron EXHIBITION OPENING Nov 5

Please join us for the opening of our November exhibitions from two interstate artists Jane Bowden (Adelaide) and Melissa Cameron Melbourne), come and give them a warm Sydney welcome!

November 5, 6 - 8pm
Exhibition running until November 26

m1 Jane Bowden 'Wrapped'

Bowden’s exquisitely handcrafted exhibition pieces are based on the process of applying textile techniques to metal. Woven forms such as bracelets, necklaces and rings are created with volume and density through the weaving and twi… Continue

Posted by Metalab on October 31, 2009 at 11:44am

Stella Chrysostomou

SKATE

You're invited to SKATE.....
SKATE is a dynamic one-night only event that involves music boxes, roller skates and old chairs.....and jewellery.....
Come and join us at 6pm, Wednesday 4th November St John's Hall, Hardy Street, Nelson
...wheels on your feet (optional)




SKATE is an open… Continue

Posted by Stella Chrysostomou on October 28, 2009 at 3:50pm

 
 

Copyright ©2009

Copyright ©2009 of all work and images is the property of the jeweller who has posted the image. Please contact individual jewellers for copyright permission.

Forum

Natalia Milosz-Piekarska

Looking to buy jewellery tools... 6 Replies

Started by Natalia Milosz-Piekarska in Uncategorized. Last reply by Natalia Milosz-Piekarska Nov 12.

Anton Nel

Cross Jewellery 6 Replies

Started by Anton Nel in Uncategorized. Last reply by Melissa Cameron Sep 17.

 

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