Rare Earth Metals

[pmbug]

...
Adamas forecasts an under-supply of neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium oxide from 2022 onward. Global shortages of NdFeB alloy and powder will amount to 48,000 tonnes annually by 2030 – roughly the amount needed for some 25 to 30 million electric vehicle traction motors.

Also neodymium, praseodymium and didymium oxide demand will collectively rise to 16,000 tonnes in 2030, an amount equal to roughly three-times Lynas Corporation’s annual output, or three-times MP Materials’ annual output, of neodymium and praseodymium oxide (or oxide equivalents).

'Simply implausible' for rare earths production to keep up, warns Adamas

A roundup of all the mining news in the precious metals sector with a variety of company news, mining sector analysis, newsletter writer insights and executive interviews.

www.kitco.com

I wonder how much their forecast relies upon a growth in the electric vehicle market. Growth forecasts for that market might be questionable given current conditions (pandemic, economic stress, political uncertainty, etc.).

 

[pmbug]

Things are getting serious now (/sarcasm). The POTUS signed an executive order for people to study and produce reports.

Executive Order on Addressing the Threat to the Domestic Supply Chain from Reliance on Critical Minerals from Foreign Adversaries | The White House

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic

www.whitehouse.gov

 

[rblong2us]

There will be plenty of distopian oxide available I reckon (-;

 

[searcher]

Top uranium miner Kazatomprom looks to boost capacity on non-Russian shipping route​

Adis Ajdin
October 26, 2022

Kazatomprom, the world’s largest uranium miner, is looking to boost the capacity of its alternative shipping route to reduce the risk of the potential impact the growing list of sanctions on Russia could have on its exports.

The Kazakh company, which ships most of its products through Russian territory, said in its latest trading update that its third-quarter volumes went via St. Petersburg port “without any disruptions or logistical or insurance-related issues.”

However, it noted that the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which the company has used as an alternative route since 2018, could help mitigate the risk of the primary route becoming unavailable for any reason.

Top uranium miner Kazatomprom looks to boost capacity on non-Russian shipping route - Splash247

Kazatomprom, the world’s largest uranium miner, is looking to boost the capacity of its alternative shipping route to reduce the risk of the potential impact the growing list of sanctions on Russia could have on its exports. The Kazakh company, which ships most of its products through Russian...

splash247.com

 

[searcher]

The global race to secure critical minerals heats up

9 Dec 2022|David Uren

The World Trade Organization last week ruled that Indonesia had no right to ban the export of nickel or to require that raw nickel ore be refined in Indonesia.

Handing a comprehensive victory to the complainant, the European Union, the WTO decision highlights the clash between national security and global trade rules over critical minerals.

At least 14 nations, including Australia, have drafted special national-security-focused arrangements governing investment and trade in critical minerals. Nickel—a crucial input of batteries and stainless steel—is on seven of those lists.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo made clear that the WTO ruling won’t be the last word on the matter. ‘Even though we lost at the WTO on this nickel issue … it’s okay. I have told the minister to appeal,’ he said.

More:

The global race to secure critical minerals heats up | The Strategist

The World Trade Organization last week ruled that Indonesia had no right to ban the export of nickel or to require that raw nickel ore be refined in Indonesia. Handing a comprehensive victory to the ...

www.aspistrategist.org.au

 

[arminius]

The World Trade Organization last week ruled that Indonesia had no right to ban the export of nickel or to require that raw nickel ore be refined in Indonesia.

By what right does the WHO have to ban anything a sovereign nation decides to export or import. Isn't this putting the cart before the horse? ...

 

[nickndfl]

In a related topic, I hope the US Mint or RCM starts minting uranium or plutonium coins for sale.

 

[pmbug]

Japan wants to mine rare earths from seabed mud, but they need to develop the tech to make it feasible:

Japan to begin extracting rare earth metals from seabed in 2024

Program a part of effort to wean the country off its reliance on Chinese imports

asia.nikkei.com

 

[pmbug]

Swedish mining group LKAB discovers Europe's largest deposit of rare earth metals

A roundup of all the mining news in the precious metals sector with a variety of company news, mining sector analysis, newsletter writer insights and executive interviews.

www.kitco.com

Remains to be seen if Sweden/Europe has the stomach to actually mine and refine.

 

[nickndfl]

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/13/business/sweden-rare-earth-minerals.html

 

[pmbug]

According to preliminary data released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), global rare earth minerals (REE) mine production in 2022 is estimated at about 300,000 tonnes of rare-earth-oxide (REO) equivalent, up 3.4% from 2021 (290,000 tonnes).

Global REE mine production, tonnes of REO equivalent. 2022* - preliminary estimate. Source: USGS.

...

According to the report, the contribution of other countries’ mine production in global REE output declined in 2022 and accounted for 30% (90,000 tonnes of REO equivalent) of the world’s total REE mine production (300,000 tonnes of REO equivalent), compared to 42% in 2021.

Largest REE producing countries, tonnes of REO equivalent. 2022* - preliminary estimate. Source: USGS.
...

Global rare earths production up 3.4% in 2022 as output in China jumps 25%

A roundup of all the mining news in the precious metals sector with a variety of company news, mining sector analysis, newsletter writer insights and executive interviews.

www.kitco.com

 

[searcher]

PLS (ASX) News: PLS UPDATE 1-Australia's Pilbara profit soars nearly 11-fold on strong output

(Adds background, details) Feb 23 (Reuters) - Miner Pilbara Minerals (PLS) on Thursday posted a nearly 11-fold jump in half-year net profit, boosted by...

hotcopper.com.au

 

[searcher]

In a remote and heavily forested region of northern Maine, a critical resource in the fight against climate change has been hiding beneath the trees. In November, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, announced the discovery of rocks that are rich in rare earth elements near Pennington Mountain. A category of metals that play an essential role in technologies ranging from smartphones to wind turbines to electric vehicle motors, rare earths are currently mined only at a single site in the United States. Now, researchers say a place that’s been geologically overlooked for decades could be sitting on the next big deposit of them — although a more thorough survey would be needed to confirm that.

A government program hopes to find critical minerals right beneath our feet

Federal scientists are using recon flights and field research to track down metals that are key to the energy transition.

grist.org

 

[searcher]

The EV mining rush could come to Montana’s mountains

A company announced it found the country’s highest-grade rare earth deposit in Montana.

www.hcn.org

 

[pmbug]

As DCF explained at the beginning of this thread, finding/mining Rare Earths isn't the issue. The USA has plenty of them. It's the pollution from refining them that is the problem.