Minerals and metals

At VONOIL, we understand the majority of resources are sourced through the same points of supply. This gives us a great opportunity when it comes to securing minerals and metals. All we need to do is look to our resources for the other products we market, such as oil, for instance.

We source zinc in Europe and North America and market it from third-party producers. We often have access to gold and silver, which are sourced from the same miners.

Zinc

Zinc’s main use is to galvanize steel or iron to prevent rusting. This is done by applying zinc as a topcoat. You’ll find galvanized steel in a variety of products such as vehicles, buildings and electronics.

Zinc Alloys

Zinc alloys are particularly flexible and strong, so they are often used to create die casts found in facilities that produce machine or vehicle parts.

Zinc Oxide

Zinc oxide is typically used in the production of rubber. It makes rubber compounds stronger and more resistant to heat, abrasion and UV light.

Zinc Sulphide

You’ll find zinc sulphide in X-ray machines and optics, and it is often used as a pigment for paints and plastics.

Lead is widely used in the automobile industry in batteries, radiators and solder for joints. It is also common in radiation shields and some paints where corrosion is an issue. Its low melting point, malleability and resistance to corrosion make it a frequently used product.

We market copper in key regions around the globe where supply and demand are high. A popular metal, it’s known to conduct heat and electricity extremely well, so it is often found in wiring, electronics and heat-exchange applications. It’s also easily recycled and used in renewable energy applications. Additionally, antimicrobial properties make it popular in healthcare environments.

The demand for cobalt is increasing, particularly due to it being such an important ingredient in electric vehicle batteries and portable electronics. It is also used as an alloy where high-temperature strength is important, such as aircraft engines, gas turbine generators and cemented carbides. Cobalt is often alloyed with aluminum and nickel to make extremely strong magnets. Moreover, the metal is sometimes used in electroplating. Its appearance, hardness and resistance to corrosion make it attractive in this application.

Nickel is most commonly used in creating stainless steel due to its strength and ability to resist corrosion, even at high heats. It is commonly used in jet engines, toasters and electric ovens. The metal also is used for nickel plating and nickel compounds found in batteries, especially those in electric vehicles.

Thanks to third-party producers, we’re able to market aluminium and alumina – an oxide created from processed aluminium ore – around the world. This includes providing the world’s main aluminium ore, bauxite, as well as alumina, primary aluminium and aluminium alloys. We also market iron ore when requested.

Aluminium

Strong, lightweight, soft and malleable, aluminium is often used in a variety of applications, from aircraft fuselages to aluminum foil, cans and kitchen utensils. The construction industry often uses it in window and door frames, roofs and more. Other attributes include the fact that it is resistant to corrosion and can be easily cast, machined and formed.

Approximately 90% of all metal refined today is iron. Most of it is used to manufacture steel, such as reinforced concrete, structural steel and rebar commonly used in buildings and bridges. It is also used to create stainless steel, found in everything from construction applications to kitchenware and appliances.

We market chrome ore, ferrochrome and vanadium, as well as manganese ore and alloys.

Ferrochrome

Stainless steel, known for its resistance to corrosion, claims most of the world’s use of ferrochrome.

Manganese Alloys

Manganese is mostly used in the production of carbon steel.

Ferrovanadium

Vanadium alloys are commonly used to make specialty steels stronger for specific and luxury applications. It’s also used to make vanadium redox batteries.

Lithium is a soft, low-density metal. It is often used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles. When made into alloys, its strength is improved and it is lighter. Lithium and its compounds are used in special glasses and ceramics, lubricants, steel and aluminum production and more.