Bumble

Nice video on Uranium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdebMTuzetk

Some commentators I follow reckon that there will be a significant shortfall in copper production in the next few years, because of demand from electric cars and other areas of electrification. The slack will have to be taken up by aluminium, since this is the only other plausible candidate for an inexpensive and abundant metal with a high conductivity. Obviously, good news for copper too.

I try to keep it down to about 30, though that is probably a little high. My best performing stock this year has been Emerita (EMO.V).

Moving out of oil may be a decision motivated by ESG considerations. Potash is a good thing to be in, because it is needed for fertilizer, and prices have slumped in recent years. Dropping the London listing will mean that funds that track FTSE 100 will no longer own it, but I doubt it will make much difference. I own some and I will continue to hold, along with some other big miners like Rio TInto, Glencore and Vale. All of these pay attractive dividends. I would sell all of them if demand for iron ore and copper collapsed.

BHP has announced that it is moving out of oil, but is moving into potash. It is also delisting from London. I am out of Diversified Energy (DEC) and Reconnaissance (RECO.V) but still running with I3 Energy (I3E.L and ITE.V).

I used to be a scientist when I was younger.

For information, the following table shows the electrical conductivity of some common metals. The densities are also noteworthy. Lead is similar in density to silver, and tungsten is very similar to gold. The magnetic susceptibility indicates whether the metal is paramagnetic (+ve) or diamagnetic (-ve). Tungsten is paramagnetic, so it will be attracted by a permanent magnet, while gold, silver and copper are diamagnetic.

You are quite right. The slowing up effect is an instance of Lenz's law, and is in effect a form of magnetic braking. It has nothing to do with diamagnetism. What the test is measuring is the electrical conductance of the metal. Lead, for example, has less than a tenth of the conducitivity of silver, so the difference would be very marked. Copper on the other hand is almost as conductive as silver, so the magnet test would be no good on a copper coin or bar that was silver plated.

I'm still optimistic on energy. Of the three stocks I bought earlier this year, DGOC.L renamed itself to Diversified Energy (DEC.L) and hasn't' done particularly well, though it is paying a 10% dividend, so I'm still hopeful. I3E.L has done pretty well and is paying a maiden dividend of 6%. RECO.V has been a star performer: my best this year.