User:CommissarDoggo/Nippon PGM and stuff

Dowa Metals & Mining America is a precious metals refiner that began in 1884 as a mining operation in the town of Kosaka, Akita Prefecture.{{cite web |last=Samaha |first=Albert |date=May 4, 2023 |title=How Stealing Catalytic Converters Became The Latest Crime Trend |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/catalytic-converter-theft_n_645160b3e4b0fe3b9bc757b8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219172019/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/catalytic-converter-theft_n_645160b3e4b0fe3b9bc757b8 |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |access-date=February 19, 2024 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=DOWA METALS & MINING CO., LTD. - Resource Development & Raw Materials Department - History |url=https://www.dowa.co.jp/MandM/en/history/index.html#:~:text=Dowa's%20history%20began%20with%20the,the%20so-called%20Hokuroku%20Basin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327210928/https://www.dowa.co.jp/MandM/en/history/index.html#:~:text=Dowa's%20history%20began%20with%20the,the%20so-called%20Hokuroku%20Basin. |archive-date=March 27, 2023 |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=www.dowa.co.jp}} The company specialized in mining kuroko ore, a rare black volcanic deposit found only in Japan and primarily in Akita Prefecture in the Hokuroku Basin. The ores can contain as much as 20% of combined copper, lead and zinc, but they can also contain quantities of gold and silver.{{Cite web |title=Mineral deposit - Hydrothermal, Solutions, Ore {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/mineral-deposit/Hydrothermal-solution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220122411/https://www.britannica.com/science/mineral-deposit/Hydrothermal-solution |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} It was difficult to recover the precious and base metals from the ores efficiently due to the complex mineral composition until Dowa invented specialised floating and smelting methods for this purpose.

Dowa expanded its domestic mining operations during the early 20th century and began exploring international opportunities for expansion in the 1940s. By 1990 Kosaka Mine had closed and by 1994 Dowa's domestic operations in Japan were suspended "due to economic changes and the depletion of ore". They currently operate two overseas mines, Tizapa and Los Gatos Mines in Mexico, with their final stake in Gibraltar Mine in Canada being bought out by Taseko Mines in March 2024.{{Cite web |last=Ellichipuram |first=Umesh |date=2024-03-26 |title=Taseko to take full ownership of Gibraltar Mine |url=https://www.mining-technology.com/news/taseko-full-ownership-gibraltar/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Mining Technology |language=en-US}}

In 2015, Dowa Holdings established Dowa Metals & Mining America, beginning operations at a refinery in Burlington, New Jersey some time after.{{Cite web |title=Who We Are – DOWA Metals & Mining America Inc. – located in Burlington, New Jersey, offers premium refining services for catalytic converters, on an on-assay basis. |url=https://dmmamerica.com/who-we-are/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220130431/https://dmmamerica.com/who-we-are/ |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-20 |language=en-US}} After Dowa evaluated the PRP dust that it received, it would pay its suppliers and refine the dust into chunks. These chunks would then be shipped to Tanaka Precious Metals in Akita, where they would be prepared for sale. Tanaka Precious Metals was a founding member of Nippon PGM Co., a joint venture formed in 1991 between Dowa, Tanaka Precious Metals and Kosaka Smelting and Refining Co.{{Cite web |title=NIPPON PGM |url=https://nipponpgm.dowa.co.jp/english/company.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220130432/https://nipponpgm.dowa.co.jp/english/company.html |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=nipponpgm.dowa.co.jp}}

Tanaka Precious Metals was formed a year after Dowa in 1885 as Ejimaya Tanaka Shoten, a bullion trading business, melting down foreign currency from Yokohama's foreign quarter, refining and then selling the metals. They have since become one of the world's largest precious metal suppliers, supplying critical materials to several Japanese industries including vehicles and electronics.{{Cite web |title=History｜TANAKA Precious Metals |url=https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/corporate/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207140346/https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/corporate/history/ |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=tanaka-preciousmetals.com}}

Kosaka Smelting and Refining Co. was incorporated in May 1989, and today produces approximately 20 different kinds of metals; something they claim is rare in the industry. Additionally, they claim to be the only plant in Japan capable of producing copper and lead in a single plant.{{Cite web |date=October 21, 2019 |title=About Us |url=https://dowa-kosaka.co.jp/en/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220130432/https://dowa-kosaka.co.jp/en/ |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |access-date=20 February 2024 |website=Kosaka Smelting and Refining Co., LTD}}

Between 2018 and 2022, Tanaka Precious Metals' annual revenue increased by approximately 20% to $288 million. It is unclear whether Dowa performed any form of vetting on their suppliers.