Hallo zusammen,
als Neuling hier möchte ich erst einmal alle begrüßen.Aufmerksam lese ich schon länger alle Berichte durch.
Nun habe ich vor ein paar Tagen ein Investment in Atlas Mining
gewagt.
Von einem positiven Erfolg bin ich überzeugt.
Gibt es andere Atlas Investoren hier?
Soviele kanns ja noch nicht geben bei der geringen Marktkapitalisierung von ca.7 Millionen Dollar.
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Ich antworte mir mal selber.
Es gibt 33 Millionen Aktien.Bei Kurs von 0,235 Cent ergibt sich eine Marktkap. von 7,75 Mille Dollar.Nun wurde angekündigt ab April
in Utah Halloysit,oder Halloysite abzubauen.Die Reserven sollen about 300.000,00 Tonnen sein.So wie ich das gelesen habe,können 30000 Tonnen im Jahr abgebaut werden.Bei Erlösen von 400-450 Tonnen ergibt sich auf die nächsten Jahre ein Wert von ca.135.Mille.
Nun haben die ja einen Auftrag von 10000 Tonnen bis Ende Juni.Vielleicht komme ich mit meiner Rechnung hin.
Die genauen Kosten kenne ich noch nicht.Aber nehmen wir an die Kosten sind 50%, dann verbleiben 225 Dollar pro Tonne.Bei einer Jahresproduktion von ca.30000 Tonnen ergibt sich ein "Gewinn" in Höhe von ca.6,75 Mille.Aufgrund des Branchenvergleiches ( evtl,mit North American Palladium ) wäre vielleicht ein KGV von 30 etwas hoch aber nicht übertrieben.Dies ergibt dann eine Markkap in der Spitze von ca.200 Mille, dies macht bei 30 Mille Aktien ca einen Kurs von 6-7 Dollar.
Das ist eine Milchrechnung.Der CEO,oder Finanzvorstand gab vor kurzem an der Kurs sollte aufgrund der Reserven bei ca 4 Dollar und nicht im Centbereich sein.Gerne tausche ich mich mit anderen Atlas Investoren aus.Jedenfalls ist noch kein Handel in Berlin, deswegen deckt euch in Nasdaq ein.
Ich hab eine kleine Anzahlund werde die die nächsten Jahre behalten.
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Mit den 4 Dollars meinst Du wahrscheinlich die Stelle:
We have a resource of at least 300,000 tons of unique halloysite clay with a minimum value of $450.00 per ton. This equates to over $4.00 per share value to our shareholders.
Damit scheint nur der Wert der Reserven pro Aktie gemeint zu sein. Das kann nicht mit dem Aktienkurs übereinstimmen, da noch die Kosten zu berücksichtigen sind.
300.000 t * 450$/t = 135.000.000 $
135.000.000 $ / 33.000.000 Aktien = ca 4 $
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ja klar, halbier halt den betrag,dann haste die etwa den gewinn nach kosten...ok und nun? wo ist die kgv update bewertung????
aber 24 cent ist ja echt ne krücke...les mal in der homepage
die nachrichten seit 2002..selbstverständlich sind das mindestens 300000 tonnen.weiter unten reden die von ca.700000 tonnen und einem preis von bis zu 1000 dollar.wenn du mir nicht glaubst,ich hab alles ausgedruckt und kann dir die quelle sagen.
ferner schreiben sie, dass das nun abgebaute halloysite das reinste
und beste auf der welt im reinheitsgrad ist.ich denke mal,wenn klar ist,dass die ohne gegenwehr ( des berges ) den abbau gut hinkriegen geht der kurs nur nach oben,denn wer will dann verkaufen? -
Was ist denn, wenn das Management korrupt ist und 90% des zu fördernden Goldes im vorhinein verkauft und sich selbst anschliessend mit goldenem Handschlag verabschiedet?????????????????????????
Alles undenkbar??????????????
Gruss Zeitgenosse
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he zeitgenosse,
die atlas firma gibt es seit 1924.sie haben alleine das recht auf abbau des halloysit der dragon mine.
wo steht eigentlich dass es sich hier um gold handelt,was der
atlas mining ag das grosse geschäft bringt? es handelt sich um das
reinste mineral halloysit auf der welt.es wird in der keramikindustrie
usw verarbeitet.
z.B.ein link eines bildes: http://www.rbmineral.dehalloysit ist ein weisses tonmineal und kein gold.
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at marathontamm
Immerhin ist das hier das goldseiten-forum und nicht das Kristallseiten-forum :-)))))
Hab keine Ahnung, was an den Steinen dran sein soll, würde nie viel Geld dafür ausgeben. Oder hab ich dich nicht richtig verstanden. Dann erzähl doch mal etwas ausführlicher, worum es geht.gruss zeitgenosse
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About Atlas Mining Company: Atlas Mining Company is a diversified natural resource company with its primary focus on the development of the Dragon Mine in Juab County, Utah, the only known commercial source of halloysite clay outside of New Zealand. The unique purity and quality of the Dragon mine halloysite is unmatched anywhere in the world and has spawned considerable research into new and exciting applications for this product. Atlas also holds mining and timber interests in Northern Idaho, and operates an underground mining contracting business. Atlas stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "ALMI". More information about Atlas Mining Company can be found at http://www.atlasmining.com.
Halloysite Clay
Halloysite is a high-value clay that sells for more than $400 per ton. Its fine particle size enables halloysite to be used extensively as a suspension agent in glaze preparations. The purity of the clay and the low iron and titania content result in ceramic ware with exceptional whiteness and translucency. Therefore, halloysite clay is typically used in the manufacture of porcelain, bone china and fine china. A small but increasing amount is also used for high-tech ceramic applications. Other potential applications identified by ALMI include uses in filters, inkjets, and as an ingredient in special paints applied to ships that prevent barnacles from growing on the ships' hulls.
Atlas Mining controls the only known commercial source of halloysite outside of New Zealand: the Dragon Mine site in Juab County, Utah. Industry experts from The Phlogiston Company concluded "The grain size and lack of significant impurity make Dragon Mine halloysite superior to products currently on the market." Scanning electron microscope photos and chemical analysis show that the raw material is nearly pure halloysite. Therefore, Atlas should have both geographical and qualitative advantage when serving North American customers.
--Auf gut deutsch heißt es, dass das Halloysite der Drageon Mine von Atlas Mining das reinste auf der Welt ist.
Halloysite ist ein weisses Tonmineal und kein Gold,aber es wird für
die Premiumporzellanverarbeitung und in der Richtung verwendet.Stell dir mal vor, dass der Abbau gelingt, das Material in der Verarbeitung wirklich das hält,was die Proben ergeben,dann zahlen die Käufer sogar bis zu 1000 dollar pro tonne.Nachzulesen auf der homepage von atlas mining..
also,keine gold oder silber firma sondern premiumporzellan.und wenn es nicht so grosse bedeutung wie gold oder silber hat.ein material,dass als das beste der welt gilt,hat immer beachtung verdient,oder???
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ALMI ALMI
ATLAS MINING CO OTCBB
Back to Headlines | Previous Story
Atlas Mining to Present Paper to International Minerals Congress; Microtubule Attributes of Dragon Mine Halloysite Topic of PresentationOSBURN, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2004--Atlas Mining Company(NASDAQ-OTCBB:ALMI) (OTCBB:ALMI), a natural resource and mining company, announced today its advisory board member, Dr. Ron Price, will address mineral experts from around the world at the 17th annual Industrial Minerals International Congress (IM17) in Barcelona, Spain.
Atlas Mining President and CEO William Jacobson said, "Dr. Price, who is the inventor of the patent on microtubules technology, will address the convention this coming Wednesday." The US Navy owns the microtubule patent and is currently researching various ways to use micro-tubular technology to better protect its ship's hulls from barnacles and other damaging buildup.
Halloysite microtubules can act as time-release capsules, dissolving over time. They can be filled with such things as antifouling paint, anti-scalants, herbicides, pest repellents, and other agents that could benefit from a controlled release. The length of the micro-tube controls the time-release duration.
Dr. Price will be presenting his paper, "New Horizons for Halloysite in Micro-tubular Technology", to an audience focused on both "new" and "growth" markets within the international minerals community.
The Industrial Minerals International Congress brings together senior executives, operating in the producing, trading, and consuming sectors from all over the world to discuss the latest developments within the international marketplace of industrial minerals. Over the three-day conference, presentations from industry leaders and technological experts will provide a unique window on news and developments in the world of minerals.
"This is our first opportunity to present, literally to the world, the microtubule and time-release potentials that exist with our halloysite," said Jacobson. "This will change the way many time-release applications are developed and deployed, and we expect a favorable reaction from the worldwide mineral community."
The Dragon Mine is a rich cache of the mineral "halloysite". Historically, halloysite has been used in the manufacturing of bone china, fine china, and porcelain products. However, internal and other chemists and scientists have discovered new uses for the processed mineral. The Dragon Mine halloysite also has a unique tubular quality, not unlike a grain of rice, only considerably smaller and hollow.
About Atlas Mining Company(NASDAQ-OTCBB:ALMI)
Atlas Mining Company(NASDAQ-OTCBB:ALMI) is a diversified natural resource company with its primary focus on the development of the Dragon Mine in Juab County, Utah, the only known commercial source of halloysite clay outside of New Zealand. The unique purity and quality of the Dragon mine halloysite is unmatched anywhere in the world and has spawned considerable research into new and exciting applications for this product. Atlas also holds mining and timber interests in Northern Idaho, and operates an underground mining contracting business. Atlas stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "ALMI". More information about Atlas Mining Company(NASDAQ-OTCBB:ALMI) can be found at http://www.atlasmining.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
As a cautionary note to investors, certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; the Company's ability to execute its business model and strategic plans; and the risks described from time to time in the Company's SEC filings.
The forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as of the date hereof. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date thereof. Readers should carefully review the risks described in other documents the company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, as well as the Quarterly Reports and Current Reports on Form 8-K by the company.
CONTACT: First Global Media
John Roskelley, 602-228-1791SOURCE: Atlas Mining Company(NASDAQ-OTCBB:ALMI)
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Atlas Mining in Discussions with Several Nano-Technology Companies; Top Advisors Meeting with Companies in Hong Kong and China
OSBURN, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 2004--Atlas Mining Company(NASDAQ-OTCBB:ALMI) (OTCBB:ALMI), a natural resource and mining company, announced today it has engaged in discussions with several nano-technology companies. Halloysite microtubules provide a wide array of benefits and potentials to several nano applications.
Atlas Mining President and CEO William Jacobson said, "The potential uses for our halloysite continues to grow, seemingly every single day. The time-release attributes of our halloysite microtubules has become a hot topic of interest to several nano-technology companies, some of which are working on fantastic technologies. The kinds of technologies that change our entire way of doing things."
Jacobson continued, "I have two of my top advisors in Hong Kong and China right now. Last night they met with several government officials in one of the most prominent economic development zones in China." The company and its advisors are also in discussions with several Asian biotech companies regarding the ingestible benefits of the halloysite time-release microtubules.
Recently some vitamin manufacturers who have been considering the use of microtubular halloysite as an ingestible product have approached the company. The ability to encapsulate various products from perfumes to health supplements to household products into the Dragon Mine halloysite has sparked a lot of interest from numerous end use manufacturers.
The unique tubular halloysite is a primary nano-ceramic material. The unique size and shape of the Dragon Mine halloysite makes it very interesting from the point of being fillers in coatings and composite materials. The microtubules are capable of being functionalized by a number of means including being plated by an electrolysis process with metals from iron to copper and nickel giving them a range of very interesting properties, including being fillers in RAM materials.
Additionally, they can be used as molecular sieves, catalysts in hydrocarbon cracking, fillers in polymers and other similar materials. Companies that make ceramic cracking catalysts and molecular sieve materials will make excellent customers for the company. By processing the halloysite to individual tubules, the nano-ceramics market is ideal as a high value target for the company.
Jacobson continued, "While these sales cycles all take time, and the preliminary mine setup has been slowed a bit by some bad weather, we are moving forward at a very nice pace." Last week the Dragon Mine property received about four inches of snow, delaying ground work for a couple of days.
"The bottom line for Atlas is that we are fortunate to not be in a race with anyone. Our product has been independently called one of the rarest and purest halloysite finds on the planet, and the testing and samples provided to our future customers have proven this," Jacobson concluded.
The Dragon Mine is a rich cache of the mineral "halloysite". Historically, halloysite has been used in the manufacturing of bone china, fine china, and porcelain products. However, internal and other chemists and scientists have discovered new uses for the processed mineral. The Dragon Mine halloysite also has a unique tubular quality, not unlike a grain of rice, only considerably smaller and hollow. The halloysite microtubules can act as a time-release capsule, dissolving over time, and can be filled with such things as antifouling paint, antiscalants, herbicides, pest repellents, and other agents which could benefit from a controlled release.
About Atlas Mining Company: Atlas Mining Company(NASDAQ-OTCBB:ALMI) is a diversified natural resource company with its primary focus on the development of the Dragon Mine in Juab County, Utah, the only known commercial source of halloysite clay outside of New Zealand. The unique purity and quality of the Dragon mine halloysite is unmatched anywhere in the world and has spawned considerable research into new and exciting applications for this product. Atlas also holds mining and timber interests in Northern Idaho, and operates an underground mining contracting business. Atlas stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "ALMI". More information about Atlas Mining Company(NASDAQ-OTCBB:ALMI) can be found at http://www.atlasmining.com.
Safe Harbor Statement: As a cautionary note to investors, certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; the Company's ability to execute its business model and strategic plans; and the risks described from time to time in the Company's SEC filings.
CONTACT: First Global Media
John Roskelley, 480-902-3110SOURCE: Atlas Mining Company(NASDAQ-OTCBB:ALMI)
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Seit dem letzen Eintrag hier hat sich der Wert mehr als verdoppelt.
Kurs: 0,47 und schön gemächlich ohne hype.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=ALMI.OB&t=1yHeute wurde das Abkommen mit NanoDynamics, das bereits im Herbst angekündigt wurde, unter Dach und Fach gebracht.
Siehe hier:
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050105/lnw010_1.htmlIm Dezember wurde auch eine Vertriebsfirma für den halloysite clay gefunden.
Bei Atlas Mining ist auch interessant, dass sie " im Nebenerwerb" Wald erwerben incl. Grundstück, den dann abholzen und wieder aufforsten. Das ist zwar ein Nullsummenspiel,
aber das grundstück gehört dann ihnen.
Wenn sich drunter noch Metall befindet??? .....
Weil eigentlich ist/war Atlas ja auf der Suche nach Gold und Silber, bis in einer Mine dieser wertvolle Ton gefunden wurde, der doch einiges cash
bringt.Tschonko
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...laut Thai Guru sitzt Atlas such auf silber, das allerdings noch ruht...
Bis Frühjahr war Atlas liquiditätsmäßig konkursgefährdet und vom Wohlwollen eines großen Kreditgebers abhängig ---Ausgangsbasis für Kursvervierfachung...
aktueller Kursanstieg: Der neue Vertriebspartner hat einen ersten großen Lieferauftrag für Tonerde vermittelt.
zeigt, dieser ist
1) fähig
2)--willig
Geschäft für Atlas zu generieren... (Anfangsstadium...)
Hatte mich (in Unkenntnis der Konkursgefahr )massiv in Atlas engagiert
und mich in der Hoffnung, daß die Entwicklung so wie jetzt ins Laufen gekommen, dennoch nicht verabschiedet .@ Zeitgenosse.
erst schaun bzw. denken vor dem Loshämmern...
Grüße emoba
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Meldung :
6-Jan-2005
Sale of EquityITEM 3.02. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Between December 15, 2004 and December 31, 2004, the Company sold a total of 1,400,000 shares of common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase 700,000 shares of common stock, in the aggregate, at a price of $0.25 per unit comprised of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock for every two shares of common stock purchased in the offering, in a private placement to 14 investors. The warrants are exercisable for a period of two years from date of sale at a price of $0.50 per share. A placement agent received a commission of 10% of the proceeds from the private placement and a warrant to purchase 140,000 shares of common stock exercisable for a period of two years from date of sale at a price of $0.25 per share.The transactions above were effected under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and appropriate legends were affixed to the share certificates and other instruments issued in such transaction.
Also, da kenn ich mich überhaupt nicht aus.
Wie soll man das einschätzen?
Meist bleibt der Kurs dann hängen (siehe Canadian Zinc etc.)
kann mir das wer erklären?Grüße Tschonko
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hallo Tschonko,
Atlas ist reich an Substanz aber arm an Liquidität. Haben schließlich Jahre überlebt....
Zur Entwicklung der jetzigen erfolgversprechenden Projekte benötigen
sie Cash. Das haben sie sich geholt.
Hoffen wir, daß der Ertrag für die Gesellschaft höher ist als die Kapitalverwässerung (mehr Aktien) die Altaktionäre "kostet".
Seit ich sie beobachte hatte alles Hand und Fuß . Die Kursentwicklung in DIESEM Markt scheint es zu zeigen.Grüße emoba
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Hallo emoba,
na das hoffe ich auch.
Verdienen tun sie auch anderweits, wie untenstehende Meldung zeigt.
Sie haben zwar nur 125 T$ kassiert, also die Hälfte. Warum?
Steht nicht drinnen.
Entwicklung passt. Hoffe, siwe fangen auch zu exploren an mit dem Geld.
Grüße
Tschonko19 January 2005, 09:25am ET
OSBURN, Idaho, Jan. 19 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Atlas Mining Company (BB:ALMI), announced today that the company has sold 500 tons of halloysite clay to NaturalNano Inc. and has agreed to collaborate in the development and implementation of a proprietary separation process. Atlas and its partner NanoDynamics will work closely with NaturalNano.
Atlas Mining was awarded the supply contract by NaturalNano Inc., a technology firm that develops new processing techniques and commercial applications of natural nanoscale materials. The supply agreement could make Atlas one of the world's largest providers of a unique mineral that contains natural nanotubes -- hollow tubes that are billionths of a meter in diameter. Researchers believe the natural nanotubes can become a central component of a new generation of nano-engineered products and technologies.
William Jacobson, CEO of Atlas Mining said, ''NaturalNano has taken a very serious interest in our unique halloysite due to its tubular structure. They specialize in processing systems for nano-size materials, and we think that by utilizing their system, we can create an even greater value for our product.'' NaturalNano has remitted an initial payment of $125,000 and will process the clay on-site at Atlas Mining's Dragon Mine in Juab County, Utah for its own use. ''The future value of this product is not yet known. However, we expect to realize over $500 per ton for this order and will end up with a processing method that will bring us even greater value,'' stated Jacobson. Atlas will have the right to license NaturalNano's proprietary separation process once completed.
The Dragon Mine halloysite clay contains naturally occurring halloysite nanotubes, based on an inorganic molecule composed of aluminum, silicon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which formed in the earth from hydrothermal alteration and surface weathering of aluminosilicate minerals. Like carbon nanotubes, halloysite nanotubes are long, hollow tubes, allowing them to store and deliver a variety of materials, with external diameters ranging from less than 100 nanometers (nm.) up to several microns (or micrometers) and internal diameters ranging from under 20 nm. to 200 nm. or more.
Unlike carbon nanotubes, naturally occurring halloysite nanotubes are inexpensive, readily available in quantity, environmentally benign, and safe and easy to process. Halloysite nanotubes don't clump together, making them ideal for use in electronic fabrication and other high-tech ceramic-composite applications. The potential marketplace for naturally occurring nanotubes crosses numerous industries, representing significant potential revenues.
''It is our intent to work directly with NaturalNano and NanoDynamics to provide industrial users with a refined and predictable nanotubular material,'' concluded Jacobson.
About Atlas Mining Company
Atlas Mining Company is a diversified natural resource company with its primary focus on the development of the Dragon Mine in Juab County, Utah, the only known commercial source of halloysite clay outside of New Zealand. The unique purity and quality of the Dragon mine halloysite is unmatched anywhere in the world and has spawned considerable research into new and exciting applications for this product. Atlas also holds mining and timber interests in Northern Idaho, and operates an underground mining contracting business. Atlas stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol " ALMI." More information about Atlas Mining Company can be found at http://www.atlasmining.com.
About NaturalNano Inc.
NaturalNano, a subsidiary of Technology Innovations, LLC ( http://www.tillc.com ) based in Rochester, N.Y., was formed to pursue processing and applications of naturally occurring nanoscale materials such as halloysite or materials that can be manufactured at very low cost and in high quantity. NaturalNano currently has a team of scientists and engineers developing new processing methods as well as commercial applications for halloysite. More information about NaturalNano can be found at http://www.naturalnano.com , or by contacting company representatives at 585-214-8000 or info@naturalnano.com .
About NanoDynamics, Inc.
NanoDynamics, Inc. is a leading company in the field of nanotechnology and manufacturer of superior nanomaterials that will dramatically improve the form, function and performance of a wide range of both industrial and consumer products. The Company is uniquely positioned, utilizing proprietary and protected technologies, to commercially manufacture economical, high quality nanomaterials that will enable revolutionary advancements in industries including electronics, semiconductors, consumer products, fuel cells, transportation, energy and biotechnology. For further information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.nanodynamics.com .
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Scheissdreck...........immer die selbe Masche.
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Aber immerhin auf 52 wochen high bei 0,51 geschlossen.
Ist ja schon was! Vermute mal, dass sich ALMI mal in dieser region (0,40 -0,55) weiter aufhält. Wer vermutet anderes?
Tschonko -
Na, da hab ich mich ja schön getäuscht!
Heute mal die 0,6 angerissen.Nach 100% beginnt dann das Grübeln, Einsatz vom Tisch
oder alles drin lassen, weil´s so schön läuft.Ich zitiere Patrone: "Scheißdreck....!"
Tschonko
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In dem Aufschwung meldet sich der CEO zu Wort:
neues 52 Wo High fast jeden Tag.http://www.atlasmining.com/rel…tml#January%2026,%202005a
Und da ist ja Erfreuliches enthalten:
Sie verdoppelte 2004 die Einnahmen auf 750000$, was bei einer
MC: von ca. 28 Mill. nicht viel erscheint, aber
für einen Explorer, der eben diesen Nanosite Clay produziert,
ist so ein Csh flow schon sehr bemerkenswert und auch gut..Was ich nicht verstehe:
1. "We recently took on an underground rehab project at the Sunshine Mine, once the richest silver producing property in the U.S. "Ich hab mir gedacht, die Sunshine Mine gehört zu 100% Sterling
(SRLM.PK). Was machen die dort??2. "As we move into 2005 we still have some unfinished goals. We made an offer to the bankrupt American National Mortgage Partners group to settle out the outstanding debt with them. We’re optimistic this will be resolved soon."
Haben die Schulden bei einer Firma, die jetzt bankrott ist?Dragon Mine wird bald auf Vollbetrieb geschaltet.
Und sie schauen sich nach neuen properties um.
So gesehen machte die Aktienvermehrung, über die ich mich sehr geärgert hatte zu diesem Zeitpunkt, wieder Sinn.
Das haben sie gut gemacht, Respekt.
Grüße Tschonko
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Heute haben sie die 1$ marke geschafft.
Ich habe den einsatz schon vor einigen Wochen vom tisch genommen,
da entgeht mir zwar jetzt einiges, aber das ist meine Strategie. (also sozusagen Freispiel!)Kursziel war für mich 2$ in ca 2 Jahren. Könnte schneller gehen (1 jahr)
Noch ein bericht:
Top Geologist Speaks About Dragon Mine Clay
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 6 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The following was written by John Roskelley:
In some circles the name means nothing, but in the western mining world Rick Tschauder (pronounced " chowder" ) has gained a reputation for having an uncanny ability at sniffing out the good mineral deposits.
Rick received his hands-on geology education in Colorado and New Mexico, but has literally looked under almost every rock he has since come across. His stint as Chief Geologist at Hecla Mining Company helped round out his experience, and now when he speaks of mining and geology, it's worth taking notes.
" I had put off the idea of looking at this property for almost a year," Bill Jacobson, current President and CEO of Atlas Mining Company recently told me. " I thought, why do I want to look at a clay mine? We are hard rock, underground miners." The property owner, who has also been a business associate and friend of Jacobson's for many years, kept the pressure on to go have a look. " I finally relented and sent Rick and a fellow geologist to Utah."
Back in 2000, Rick took a trip to the company's Dragon Mine property in Juab County, Utah. " Like all well-planned excursions, the trip was made in the middle January," said Tschauder. I told Jacobson it was only fitting, and if the property was in the desert of southern Nevada, we would have just had to go look at it in the middle of August. Guys like Jacobson like to do that sort of thing to me."
I recently had the chance to interview Rick Tschauder after he recently revisited the Dragon Mine. His explanation of what happened to make the Dragon Mine a unique deposit started with a history lesson.
" Everything just came together perfectly in this location," explained Tschauder, referring to the forces of nature which converged in the region. " Quite a while ago -- something like 600 million years ago -- this entire area was once a very shallow sea. The clay, which we now find at the Dragon Mine, was on the ground, at the floor of that sea. It was a very fine, very soft layer approximately 80 feet thick."
This region, known as the Tintic Mining District, sits along the Wasatch Front, a range of mountains running through Utah, and part of the Rocky Mountains, in the west desert some two hours south of Salt Lake City, Utah. Over time the mud that covered this entire region became deeper and deeper until all of that material on the floor just sat there undisturbed, literally for eons.
" Millions of years later the water level dropped. In fact, the sea vanished and all this clay became encased essentially in a limestone tomb as the receding water levels caused slabs of the mountainside to collapse on top of the clay." This particular part of Utah is rich with limestone, and it can be seen in the architecture around the area.
Protected from being invaded and cluttered by various forms of debris and other impurities, the clay remained virtually untouched and undisturbed until about 34 million years ago.
" At that time some heat source raised the temperature in the region. This caused the very flat molecular particles to dissipate moisture and to curl into what we now call microtubules," explained Tschauder. " These are very small tubes, which are hollow and have a predictable rate of controlled time-release.
600 million years of history, a little luck along the way, a warming of the region and what do you get? Perhaps the most unique and valuable source of naturally occurring microtubes on the planet.
" Under an electron microscope, we have compared the tubular clay from the Dragon Mine to those from clay samples which can be found in New Zealand. At the molecular level we discovered we're not really making an apples-to-apples comparison. The clay samples from New Zealand are misshaped, blocky, and quite contaminated with various types of debris including quartz, volcanic ash, and silica," explained Tschauder.
The clay in New Zealand, the only other viable commercial source for halloysite clay, was formed in a much different manner and only at the raw, unprocessed level does it even compare to the halloysite clay at the Dragon Mine.
Halloysite is a mineral made up primarily of Aluminum, Silicon, and Oxygen. The purity and quality of the Dragon Mine halloysite is unmatched anywhere in the world, which has spawned interest in this particular mineral deposit into areas of cutting edge research and development.
" The company had originally sought the rights to mine the Dragon Mine clay because of the opportunities which existed in the traditional halloysite markets," explained Jacobson. " However, because of the unique molecular structure of our clay, the viability of our microtubes serving as carriers for a wide variety of nano applications has become a topic of significant interest."
Historically, the primary commercial uses for halloysite have been in the manufacturing of fine china, bone china, porcelain and ceramic products, various petroleum cracking agents, and some glazes and finishes.
Several U.S. biotech and nano-tech companies have shown a tremendous amount of interest in the Dragon Mine halloysite. The time-release attributes are quite attractive to companies currently researching the deployment of various agents through nano technology, where a predictable method of controlling the release of that agent is critical.
" For nano-scientists interested in being able to control, or to better deploy the time-release agents in a natural, benign container," explained Tschauder, " the microtubes found in the Dragon Mine clay may provide the perfect solution."
Scientists control the time-release attributes of the microtubes simply by the length and thickness of the tubes. The longer the duration sought, the longer and thicker the tubes used.
What does this all boil down to?
" After I had a chance to revisit and to see the underground bed of clay," continued Tschauder, " and to really see first-hand how well the plan has come together since those first days when there was virtually nothing here, I told Bill Jacobson that to use this clay to make ceramic and porcelain products was like using gold to wire or plumb your house."
Tschauder continued, " It's an overkill use of a very precious commodity and to be quite honest, other resources around the world are more than adequate for those needs. The Dragon Mine clay is a one-of-a-kind resource, which has been perfectly blended over hundreds of millions of years, and when it's gone, it's gone. To let it be used in the production of such things as china teacups and saucers, or spark plugs, or toilet tanks is to grossly misuse its potential. I'm certain the more the nano companies see this clay at the molecular level, and the more academia researches its potentials, the more resistant each of these groups is going to become to letting this product be used for any other reasons than their own. In fact, I'd expect them to become quite vocal about it," concluded Tschauder.
One thing is certain: Whether used traditionally or in new and exciting nano applications, Atlas Mining controls one of the most valuable and unique minerals on the planet. I'm certain it will be put to good use.
Tschonko
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