US-based miner Talon Metals Corp. says it will use Circulor’s traceability technology to ensure transparency across its mineral production, Kallanish reports.

The Toronto-listed firm says its partnership with Circulor is in line with US goals to source critical minerals in a responsible manner, for example as part of the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit.  

The company has a joint venture with mining giant Rio Tinto on the Tamarack nickel-copper-cobalt project located in central Minnesota.

Circulor’s software will also help the US miner to meet the requirements of EU regulations such as Battery Regulation, Ecodesign for Sustainable Production Regulation, and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.   

The digital certification enables Talon to incorporate independent standards such as the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) or Nickel Mark, providing assurance the minerals meet environmental and social requirements.

Talon says it has started the process for self-assessment for the IRMA Ready standard, which is focused on junior miners and projects yet to achieve production. 

“The Circulor solution digitally tracks the material itself through extraction, processing, and manufacturing processes, all the way to cell, pack, and vehicle production,” explains Todd Malan, Talon’s chief external affairs officer and head of climate strategy. “Tracing technology that validates an independent assessment of mineral production will be a vital tool for battery manufacturers and automakers to eliminate reputational risk in their mineral sourcing.”

Douglas Johnson-Poensgen, ceo of Circulor, emphasises the need to couple “sustainable production in the upstream with material traceability” to ensure the energy transition projects are delivered responsibly.