Jan. 31, 2025 – Big Blue Technologies (BBT) is pleased to announce successful testing and production of commercial grades of magnesium metal ingot and calcium aluminate. BBT’s pilot facility, commissioned in the spring of 2024, is capable of processing magnesium-bearing ores into commercial products at a nameplate capacity scale of 25 tons per year.
Magnesium metal is a critical mineral, as defined by the US Department of Energy, used for lightweighting vehicles and aircraft, high performance aluminum alloys, steel and titanium production, and defense incendiaries. Today, there are no domestic producers of pure magnesium metal or primary magnesium alloys to support critical industries.
Calcium aluminates also have a high net import reliance with only once domestic producer. This material pervades a wide array of applications including steel processing, cement and cement binder applications, and refractories.
Both magnesium metal and calcium aluminate products have been sent to relevant industrial customers, confirming commercial quality.
