“In March, the US, European Union, and Japan formally requested that the World Trade Organization (WTO) launch an investigation into China’s rare earth export policy.” Quoted from the Rare Earth Investing News.
“Canada has 1.1 billion pounds of rare earths locked in black shale deposits (the Alberta Black Shale Project) worth an estimated $206 billion. In addition, several other Canadian mines across the country show great potential.” Quote from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce website.
In response to a shortage of rare earth elements and high prices, Japan’s Hitachi Ltd. has developed an efficient industrial motor that can be manufactured without rare earth elements.
Experts disagree with a Pentagon report claiming that the United States has an adequate supply of rare earth elements to meet most U.S. Military needs.
To ensure a reliable supply of heavy rare earth minerals for its hybrid and electric cars, Toyota is entering into a deal that could give them a 49% stake in a Canadian mining operation.
An article on the Forbes.com website reports that Molycorp is spending nearly $1 billion to restart its Mountain Pass Summit mine in California. Check out the Google map below if you want a quick look at the mine.
After reaching a peak in August, international prices for rare earth elements have fallen sharply. According to an article in the New York Times, cerium was $170/kilogram in August and has fallen to $60/kilogram.
An article on RenewableEnergyWorld.com explores potential supply disruptions for rare earth elements. Between 2000 and 2009 demand for these materials increased by more than 50% and future demand will be supported by low carbon technologies.
This video takes you on a quick visit to the Molycorp rare earth elementmine at Mountain Pass, California and provides some background on rare earth elements.
This is a story contains some of the history, geology and personal experiences behind the Bokan Mountain rare earth deposit. Located near Kendrick Bay, Alaska, Bokan Mountain could turn out to be one of the largest rare earth deposit in the United States.
An article on the “Business Insider” website speculates that so many companies have rushed into the tiny rare earth metals market that the growth in competition will spoil opportunities for profits.
After amazing price increases, manufacturers who use rare earth elements are finding substitutes and ways to cut consumption. This is putting some downward pressure on prices.
As rare earth element supplies from China became limited and unreliable, Japan began looking for other suppliers. Now they have a potential deal with Myanmar.
“The Khanneshin carbonatite contains a major potential source of light rare earth elements (LREE), such as lanthanum, cerium, and neodymium. The LREE prospects in the Khanneshin carbonatite are comparable in grade to world-class deposits like Mountain Pass, CA, and Bayan Obo in China, both of which primarily contain LREE.” Quoted from the USGS news release.
“The risk list gives a quick indication of the relative risk in 2011 to the supply of the chemical elements or element groups which we need to maintain our economy and lifestyle.” Quoted from the British Geological Survey news release.
Although China is keeping tight controls over the export of rare earth minerals the country is trying to encourage Japanese companies to bring rare earth technologies to China.
“The U.S. Magnetic Materials Association is concerned with recent news reports, “think tank” positions, academic reports, U.S. government generalizations and promotional activities by some rare earth industry participants that oversimplify and downplay the seriousness of the rare earth crisis. Therefore, the USMMA is issuing the below “Myth-Fact” paper to clarify key points relevant to the successful reintroduction of a “mine-to-magnets” rare earth supply chain.” Quote from the USMMA press release.
An article on the Business Insider website reviews some emerging uses for scandium, an element found in many rare earth deposits that is sometimes classified as a rare earth element. It has historically been an important ingredient in “aluminum” baseball bats but new uses in lighting, aerospace, fuel cells and electronics could drive demand.
A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an assessment of the capability of the Nation to meet our current and future demands for the minerals critical to United States manufacturing competitiveness and economic and national security in a time of expanding resource nationalism, and for other purposes.
Dramatic price increases in the rare earth metals markets have lots of companies looking for deposits. A number of companies are exploring for rare earths in Canada and this article reports on one neodymium discovery that could be significant.
“Rare earth elements are used in mature markets (such as catalysts, glassmaking, lighting, and metallurgy), which account for 59 percent of the total worldwide consumption of rare earth elements, and in newer, high-growth markets (such as battery alloys, ceramics, and permanent magnets), which account for 41 percent of the total worldwide consumption of rare earth elements. [...] Regardless of the end use, rare earth elements are not recycled in large quantities, but could be if recycling became mandated or very high prices of rare earth elements made recycling feasible.” Quoted from the USGS publication.
“The generation of electricity in the United States from wind-powered turbines is increasing. An understanding of the sources and abundance of raw materials required by the wind turbine industry and the many uses for these materials is necessary to assess the effect of this industry’s growth on future demand for selected raw materials relative to the historical demand for these materials.” Quoted from the USGS publication abstract.
This video summarizes the new discovery of muds, rich in rare earth elements, at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Japanese researchers believe that excavating one square kilometer of the mud will yield enough rare earth elements to satisfy 1/5 of the world’s annual consumption.
To establish the Rare Earth Policy Task Force, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to develop a plan to ensure the long-term supply of rare earth materials, and for other purposes.
“The Japanese team found deep-sea mud containing high concentrations of rare-earth elements and yttrium at numerous sites throughout the southeastern and north-central parts of the Pacific Ocean.” Quote from the Wall Street Journal.
“A bill to facilitate the reestablishment of domestic, critical mineral designation, assessment, production, manufacturing, recycling, analysis, forecasting, workforce, education, research, and international capabilities in the United States.” Quoted from the Senate bill summary.
“China’s dominant position as the producer of over 95 percent of the world output of rare-earth minerals and rapid increases in the consumption of rare earths owing to the emergence of new clean-energy and defense-related technologies, combined with China’s decisions to restrict exports of rare earths, have resulted in heightened concerns about the future availability of rare earths. As a result, industrial countries such as Japan, the United States, and countries of the European Union face tighter supplies and higher prices for rare earths. This paper briefly reviews China’s rare-earth production, consumption, and reserves and the important policies and regulations regarding the production and trade of rare earths, including recently announced export quotas.” Quoted from the USGS publication announcement.
An article on the Bloomberg BusinessWeek website explains that there are significant deposits of rare earth minerals (and other minerals) in Afghanistan but there are many challenges in developing them.
An article in the Denver Post reports that mining companies and government agencies have intensified their efforts to identify and characterize rare earth mineral resources in Colorado. The Colorado School of Mines, is establishing a center for strategic materials research which conduct rare earth element studies.
The “Rare Earths Supply-Chain Technology and Resources Transformation Act of 2010″ or the “RESTART Act”….
“It is the policy of the United States to take any and all actions necessary to ensure the reestablishment of a competitive supply chain for rare earth materials in the United States and in countries that are allies of the United States; and that such a supply chain should include the capacity to conduct mining, refining, processing, alloying, and manufacturing operations using suppliers in the United States and countries that are allies of the United States to provide a secure source of rare earth materials as a vital component of national security and economic policy.”
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