Rare earth: not so rare it

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moinsdewatt
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Re: Rare earths: not so rare




by moinsdewatt » 24/01/20, 23:29

China exported 46 tonnes of rare earths in 000.
......
Full-year rare earth shipments came in at 46,330 tons in 2019, the lowest annual total since 2015, the data showed.
........


https://www.mining.com/web/china-rare-e ... ince-2015/
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moinsdewatt
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Re: Rare earths: not so rare




by moinsdewatt » 09/05/20, 00:38

Related to this post of March 21, 2020 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 7#p2297887

Angola: Government Issues New Rare Earth Exploration License To Pensana

Ecofin Agency 5 May 2020

Good news continues for Pensana Rare Earths. One week after obtaining a mining permit for its Longonjo project, the company was granted a new exploration license for rare earths in Angola.

This is the Coola project which covers an area of ​​7 km², just 456 km from its major Longonjo project. It is believed to host significant reserves of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr), as well as 16 other complexes with mineralization likely to contain other rare earths.

“The Coola and Monte Verde carbonatite complexes are similar in size to those of Longonjo and have been identified as being rich in NdPr mineralization. We are looking forward to the first phase of exploration of these new targets, ”said Dave Hammond, COO of Pensana.

Recall that, according to current estimates, the Longonjo project could produce 60 tonnes of rare earth concentrate annually, including 000 tonnes of neodymium and praseodymium, over a lifetime of 4 years.


https://www.agenceecofin.com/terres-rar ... rres-rares
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moinsdewatt
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Re: Rare Earths: Not The US Department of Defense to subsidize Lynas to build a separate factory so rare that




by moinsdewatt » 22/08/20, 13:16

The US Department of Defense will subsidize Lynas to build a rare earth separation plant in Texas from ore from the Mount Weld mine in Australia.

Boost for US rare earths as Lynas signs contract for separation facility

By Matthew Hall 29 July 2020

Australian rare earths miner Lynas announced this week that it has signed a contract with the US Department of Defense (DoD) to begin initial work on a heavy rare earth separation facility in Texas.


The project is being funded by the Pentagon as part of the DoD's desire to boost domestic production of rare earths. China currently dominates the production and export of these materials, and there are fears that escalating tensions between the superpowers could lead to China cutting off the US supply. Rare earths are critical components across several industries, from electric vehicles to smartphones, but the DoD is particularly concerned with securing a reliable supply of rare earths for military equipment. Rare earths are vital for satellites, missile guidance systems, missile defense systems and more - it is in this area that the US government is keen to diminish the reliance on China.

The Texas facility will process heavy rare earths sourced from the Lynas mine in Mt Weld, Western Australia, and will be the only source of separate heavy rare earths outside of China. It is a much-needed strategic boon to the US, which has ramped up its search for rare earth mines and processing capabilities outside of China.

This initial Phase 1 funding will allow Lynas and its US partner Blue Line to complete a market and strategy study for the construction as well as planning and design work. Lynas expects work on the facility to be completed in the 2021 financial year.

Domestic rare earth production

From the perspective of the US, China controls too much of the global rare earths production, and not only does this give China an economic leg up when it comes to new technologies and sustainable energy, but it also poses a potential defense risk if the US -China trade war continues to escalate. Rare earth minerals have uses across nuclear energy in addition to their use in military equipment and weapons. According to Reuters, a DoD review found that funding rare earth projects was in the best interest of the US government.

The Pentagon has so far funded two projects, Lynas' separation facility being one, with MP Materials being the other company that the federal government has taken an interest in. MP Materials owns the only rare earths mine in the US, Mountain Pass in California, but rare earths mined there are currently sent to China for processing due to outdated processing facilities at the site. MP Materials recently announced that it will be going public on the New York Stock Exchange, in a deal worth $ 1.47bn.

Renovating the processing facilities at Mountain Pass and constructing a new Lynas facility in Texas, will both serve to massively bolster the US's ability to produce its own supply of rare earths. Not only will this reduce the US reliance on China's rare earths, but the country might also be able to pull other countries away from China too, weakening the rival superpower's grip on the rest of the world. Several US Senators have pushed for the Pentagon to fund only domestic rare earth projects, which perhaps indicates a desire not just to strengthen the US position against China but to increase the country's influence on the world stage.

https://www.mining-technology.com/featu ... -contract/
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moinsdewatt
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Re: Rare earths: not so rare




by moinsdewatt » 22/08/20, 13:53

Russia, a producer of rare earths within 10 years?

Russia looks for $ 1.5bn to up rare earth mineral production
The Russian government has stated its ambition to be the largest rare earth mineral producer after China by 2030


Jonathan CampionAug 13, 2020

China is currently responsible for 63% of global rare earths production, and 37% of the world's total reserves. Russia is one of many countries trying to wean itself off Chinese minerals, which are predominantly used in the communications, defense and energy industries.

By comparison, Russia only accounts for 1.3% of global production, and owns 10% of global rare earth mineral reserves, equivalent to 12 million tons.

The Russian government is supportive of foreign investment to increase the country's share in the industry, and is offering investors cheaper loans and reduced mining taxes in order to facilitate this. Eleven projects throughout Russia have already been identified; these ventures will require $ 1.5bn (£ 1.15bn).


https://www.miningglobal.com/supply-cha ... production
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moinsdewatt
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Re: Rare earths: not so rare




by moinsdewatt » 02/01/21, 18:13

Rare earths: little Burundi comes to the Chinese table

Ecofin Agency. 6 nov 2020

For several months, we have witnessed a resurgence of international interest in the rare earths market which China unquestionably dominates, providing 71% of production. These precious minerals are essential for technological industries. With the trade war between the Middle Kingdom and the United States, the need for the West to have alternatives to the Chinese offer has increased. Since the end of 2017, a small African country has shown the way, Burundi. Thanks to a partnership with a foreign company called Rainbow Rare Earths, the country now operates the only rare earth mine on the continent. And the impact on its economy is already palpable.

...


Long development to read here https://www.agenceecofin.com/terres-rar ... e-la-chine

The amount of exports of rare earths from Burundi have now exceeded those of coffee and tea.
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Re: Rare earths: not so rare




by GuyGadeboisTheBack » 02/01/21, 18:41

moinsdewatt wrote:
Rare earths: little Burundi comes to the Chinese table

Ecofin Agency. 6 nov 2020

For several months, we have witnessed a resurgence of international interest in the rare earths market which China unquestionably dominates, providing 71% of production. These precious minerals are essential for technological industries. With the trade war between the Middle Kingdom and the United States, the need for the West to have alternatives to the Chinese offer has increased. Since the end of 2017, a small African country has shown the way, Burundi. Thanks to a partnership with a foreign company called Rainbow Rare Earths, the country now operates the only rare earth mine on the continent. And the impact on its economy is already palpable.

...


Long development to read here https://www.agenceecofin.com/terres-rar ... e-la-chine

The amount of exports of rare earths from Burundi have now exceeded those of coffee and tea.


Summary:
The resources of the Burundian subsoil were only subject to artisanal exploitation by the local communities until recently. They were therefore seen as untapped economic potential. The end of the civil war and the establishment of a new regime in 2005 opened Burundi to mineral exploration and some companies have moved into the production phase over the past three years. However, this start of industrialization took place under difficult conditions: opacity of the artisanal sector, failure to formalize this sector, significant gold smuggling, lack of coordination of financial and technical administrations, budget crisis and corruption. The reform of mining governance initiated before the political crisis of 2015 and which gave birth to a new mining code in 2013 has now been abandoned: the authorities are striving above all to capture the artisanal and industrial mining sector for their benefit. Consequently, the first mining investments in Burundi are already being criticized by civil society, arouse discontent among local communities and present a high political and financial risk.

https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/file ... i_2019.pdf
Once again, the profits only go to the rich and the corrupt ... :(
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moinsdewatt
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Re: Rare earths: not so rare




by moinsdewatt » 06/03/21, 12:30

Uganda: Makuutu Rare Earth Project Mineral Resources Increase 210%

Ecofin Agency March 3, 2021

Oro Verde acquired the Ugandan Makuutu project in August 2019 potentially becoming one of the few rare earth producers outside of China. After changing its name, the company which became Ionic Rare Earths has just made significant progress in the valuation of this asset.

In Uganda, the mineral resources of the Makuutu project reach 315 million tonnes grading 650 parts per million (ppm) of total rare earth oxides. This is what emerges from the new resource estimate published on March 3 by the mining company Ionic Rare Earths which specifies that this represents an increase of 210% compared to the previous estimate.
.......



https://www.agenceecofin.com/terres-rar ... ent-de-210
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