Is Vanadium the next big metal?

Vanadium is NOT a rare earth metal, however it has the right to be included when discussing the group, as it will be a player in the global roll-out of clean green energy technology.

Here are some vanadium stocks to keep an eye on:

American Vanadium (TSX-V: AVC) owns a deposit in Nevada, and is looking to partner with battery makers to sell them vanadium at a lower price while sharing profits from the value-added battery. CEO Bill Radvak is certainly excited: "Vanadium has all that rare earth-type opportunity, yet it has a very stable base on the steel-strengthening side, It's just about to take off in the next year or two."

Largo Resources (TSX-V: LGO)

Apella Resources (TSX-V: APA)

Energizer Resources (OTC: ENZR)

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Rare Earth Elements metals prices expected to fall further

Global automotive industry seeking alternative materials

Sept. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Rare-earth prices are set to extend their decline from records this year as buyers including Toyota Motor Corp. and General Electric Co. scale back using the materials in their cars and windmills.

Prices for cerium and lanthanum, the most abundant rare- earth elements, will drop by 50 percent in 12 months, Christopher Ecclestone, an analyst at Hallgarten & Co. in New York, has forecast. Neodymium and praseodymium, metals used in permanent rare-earth magnets, may fall as much as 15 percent, he said.

Makers of electric cars, wind turbines and oil-refining catalysts have sought to reduce use of the metals after China, which supplies more than 90 percent of the market, said in July 2010 that it would cut exports and clamp down on the industry. That boosted prices, encouraging mining companies to develop new prospects and buyers to find alternatives.

“If you think you can keep raising the prices for those materials and still keep your customers, you're crazy,” Jack Lifton, co-founder of Technology Metals Research, said in a telephone interview. “The principal customer for rare-earth metals is a global automotive industry using rare-earth permanent magnets. That industry will engineer this stuff out.”

Declines in August and September pared a five-month, fourfold surge that brought the average price for eight of the most widely used rare-earth oxides to a record 396,850 yuan ($62,068) a metric ton in July, data from consultant Shanghai Steelhome Information show. The average price declined 13 percent from its July peak as of Sept. 27.

Share Performance

The Bloomberg Rare Earth Mineral Resources Index dropped 41 percent in the last three months, led by a 60-percent decline in Montreal-based Quest Rare Minerals Ltd. Great Western Minerals Group Ltd., which explores in North America, climbed 4.6 percent in the period and is the only gainer on the 17-member benchmark.

Rare earths have been pushed lower because of selling by speculators, Michael Gambardella, a New York-based analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co., said in a report last week. Tsunami- related disruptions in Japan and dumping of unpermitted material in China have undercut prices, while industrial substitution has driven “demand destruction,” said Sam Berridge, a Sydney-based analyst at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc.

“A greater focus on recycling and substitution, particularly by Japanese consumers, has resulted in tightness of demand easing somewhat for the lighter rare earths,” Berridge said by phone.

‘Huge Savings'

Rising prices for the so-called light metals, such as neodymium and lanthanum, have prompted automakers including Toyota, Asia's biggest automaker, to look at reducing the use of relatively powerful and expensive rare-earth magnets in their vehicles. Some Toyota vehicles will be built with an induction motor, which doesn't use rare-earth magnets, said John Hanson, a Toyota spokesman in Torrance, California.

“Moving from a fixed-magnet motor to an induction motor is a huge savings with regard to rare-earth metals,” Hanson said by phone.

“The Japanese are leading the push to replace, reduce and recycle their rare-earths consumption,” said Dudley Kingsnorth, chief executive officer of Perth-based advisory Industrial Minerals Co. of Australia. “Users are recycling rare earths wherever they can, using them more efficiently, particularly in the magnet industry where they are producing powerful magnets with smaller volumes.”

GM's Plans

General Motors Co., the largest U.S. automaker, plans to sell a Chevrolet Malibu Eco next year that uses an induction motor, and otherwise cut down on magnets that use a lot of rare earths.

“The magnets are like God's gift to electric motors,” Pete Savagian, GM's chief engineer for electric motors, said in a telephone interview. “But we don't always need that level of magnet. Even at prices we saw three and four years ago, there's a more economic alternative, albeit at slightly less efficient outcome.”

The largest portion of demand for rare earths, one third, comes from generating electricity, according to Bloomberg Industries.

In August, GE announced the development of wind-turbine generators that will reduce dependence on the rare-earth materials prevalent in so-called permanent-magnet machines. Some current offshore wind turbines may contain as much as half a ton of the metals, according to Bloomberg Industries analysis.

Gasoline Refining

“Everybody is going back to the drawing board and trying to redesign their generators to minimize the usage of permanent magnets,” said Steve Duclos, chief scientist and manager of material sustainability for GE Global Research. “In all of our businesses we're looking to reduce our usage.”

W.R. Grace & Co. this year began selling an oil-refining catalyst with reduced lanthanum, a rare earth that has increased in price more than fourfold in the past year. Lanthanum improves the amount of gasoline refiners can extract from crude oil and is also used in hybrid-car batteries.

Half of the company's customers had switched to the new formula, which offers the same performance and gives them “double-digit type percent decreases in their cost,” Grace Chief Financial Officer Hudson La Force III said on a conference call this month.

Companies that use cerium to polish glass, such as manufacturers of liquid crystal displays, will reduce their reliance on the element by as much as 70 percent this year by installing new polishing machines, said Jonathan Hykawy, an analyst with Byron Capital Markets in Toronto.

‘Demand Destruction'

“They made the decision to substitute operational expenditure with capital expenditure,” Hykawy said. “Even if the price of cerium goes back to $5 a kilo, they will continue to buy less cerium because the machines are there and they'll save a little bit of money. That's a quasi-permanent demand destruction for cerium.”

The development doesn't worry Mark Smith, CEO of Molycorp Inc., owner of the largest rare-earth deposit outside China.

Fluid-cracking catalysts have “always been one of the largest single markets for any of the individual rare earths,” Smith said in an interview at Bloomberg headquarters in New York. “We don't see that deteriorating in any significant form.”

While rare-earth prices have fallen, demand will outpace supplies even with new mines in California and Australia expected to come online in 2014, Smith said.

“Like any market, you're going to see up and down in the course of a month or two,” Smith said. “But the overall trend remains short supply, heavy demand.”

Magnetic Powders

The ability to substitute many rare-earth applications will be limited, said Constantine Karayannopoulos, CEO of Neo Material Technologies Inc., a Toronto-based producer of rare- earths, magnetic powders and rare metals.

“All kinds of folks are trying to use alternative technologies,” he said by phone. “Longer-term, don't expect these technologies to be in place this quarter or the next.”

GE's Duclos says he has little doubt companies will find substitutes, sooner or later.

“It will depend on the element, it will depend on the usage, but getting 10-20 percent efficiencies out of the usage of an element is not that terribly difficult,” Duclos said. “What I don't subscribe to is this idea that there's nothing we can do.”

--With assistance from Elisabeth Behrmann in Sydney and Jason Scott in Perth. Editors: Steven Frank, Todd White.




Source: Bloomberg, via http://news.businessweek.com

Get Ready was a huge hit for Rare Earth, the rock band

Let's take a break from mining, metallurgy and clean energy for a moment, and remember the first white act Motown had success with, Rare Earth. Smokey Robinson wrote the song for The Temptations, and their version went to #29, however it was the Rare Earth cover that made it all the way to #4 on the charts.


Get Ready

by Smokey Robinson

Never met a girl could make me feel the way that you do.
(You're all right).
Whenever I'm asked what makes-a my dreams real, I tell em you do.
(You're outta sight).
Well tweedle dee, tweedle dum, look out baby 'cause here I come.

(Aaahh) Bringin' you a love that's true, Get ready, get ready
(Aaahh) Stop makin' love to you, Get ready, get ready.
(Aaahh) Get ready, cause here I come (on my way)

You wanna play hide and seek with love, let me remind ya.
(You're all right).
Lovin' you're gonna miss, and the time it takes to find ya.
(You're outta sight).
Fe Fi Fo Fo Fum, Look out baby now here I come.

(Aaahh) Bringin' you a love that's true, Get ready, get ready
(Aaahh) Stop makin' love to you, Get ready, get ready.
(Aaahh) Get ready, cause here I come (on my way)

If all my friends shouldn't want me to, I think I'll understand
(You're alright)
Hope I get to you before they do cause, that's how I planned it.
(You're outta sight)
Well tweedle dee, tweedle dum, look out baby 'cause here I come.

(Aaahh) Bringin' you a love that's true, Get ready, get ready
(Aaahh) Stop makin' love to you, Get ready, get ready.
(Aaahh) Get ready, cause here I come (on my way)

Ontario Government invests in clean vehicles

Magna, Electrovaya, Dana Holding and Toyota venture funded

Driving Green Employment in Ontario

by John Goddard, TheStar.com

Magna International Inc., with Ontario government help, will invest $430 million to advance the electric car and other automotive technologies in this province.

The company will undertake 19 separate research and development projects over the next six years, Magna chief executive Don Walker told a gathering Monday at the Magna plant in Brampton.

If all these projects lead to new products, they would in turn create 728 new jobs, Walker said.

The research projects involve work on parts for hybrid vehicles and on light bio-based materials to improve fuel efficiency.

“What powers our cars is changing,” Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade Minister Sandra Pupatello told the gathering. “The pieces that go into our cars are changing.”

Of the total investment, $48 million will come from the province to support “development of the next generation of electric vehicle technologies,” Pupatello said.

Walker said the government money helps keep research and development work and any potential jobs in Ontario.

Magna, based in Aurora, is North America’s largest auto parts supplier. Twenty per cent of the company’s global workforce of 104,000 works in Ontario.

Monday’s announcement was organized and staged by the provincial government — turning it into a political event in advance of the writ dropping for the Oct. 6 election.

“I will make a political comment,” said Liberal MPP Greg Sorbara, whose Vaughan riding is home to a Magna plant. “What I worry about is if the alternative is chosen in this province … grants like this, and opportunities like this, will dry up.”

Tory environment critic Toby Barrett said Sorbara is merely recycling the announcement he made four years ago as finance minister — a $50 million grant for Magna to research new vehicle technologies.

As well as possibly create 700-plus jobs, Magna’s investment will maintain 1,300 existing jobs at the car parts maker’s plants in Brampton, Aurora, Vaughan and St. Thomas.

The government has said it wants one in 20 Ontario vehicles to be electric by 2020.

Earlier in the day, Pupatello stood on a hay bale in Sarnia to announce unspecified support to help establish Bluewater Biochemicals Inc. as a producer of clean biochemicals, to replace a variety of petrochemicals and industrial chemicals.

The government also recently announced three other automotive investments:

• As part of a $94.8 million expansion by the clean transportation and battery company Electrovaya Corp. of Mississauga, the government is to contribute $16.7 million. The company’s battery technology lets cars drive farther on a single charge compared to rival batteries.

• As part of a $37 million investment by Dana Holding Corp. of Oakville and Cambridge, the government is to kick in $2 million. The company develops and manufactures air- and liquid-cooled battery technologies for electric and hybrid vehicles.

• As part of a $545 million investment in upgrades to Toyota plants in Cambridge and Woodstock, the government contributed $70.8 million. Toyota subsequently announced it would begin building the electric version of its RAV4 compact SUV in 2012 at the Woodstock assembly plant.

A government official says Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG) is pairing with the Ontario government to invest more than $400 million to research and develop electric vehicle technology.

The company is expected to announce later this morning at its headquarters in Brampton that the province will put forward about $48 million for the project.

The official says the plan will create more than 700 jobs.

The Ontario government has been moving forward with plans to ramp up the development of more environmentally vehicle production in the province.

Earlier this month, Toyota and the government announced that the electric version of its popular RAV4 sport utility vehicle will be manufactured in Woodstock.

Last week, Dana Holding Corp. said that Ontario joined the company in a $37 million investment in heat exchangers for batteries at a plant in Cambridge, Ont., under which the government would contribute $2 million.

WSJ reports pros are shorting rare Earth (REEs) stocks

By BRENDAN CONWAY And TATYANA SHUMSKY, Wall Street Journal (27jun11)

The rare-earth minerals sector is drawing near-record short interest as bearish investors bet against its previously highflying stocks.

The industry, whose minerals are used to help power items as varied as vacuum cleaners and smartphones, had been a darling of the stock market over the past year. Investors snapped up shares of the North American trio of Molycorp Inc., Avalon Rare Metals Inc., and Rare Element Resources Ltd. as rare-earth minerals were viewed as short in supply, likely to be hit by Chinese export curbs and all but certain to enjoy steady future demand by a broad range of tech customers.

That all came to an end in recent months after a confluence of events sideswiped the industry, causing short sellers to swell. Investors who want to short shares borrow the stock and then sell it, betting that the price of the shares will fall and that they can buy them back at a lower price, for return to the lender.

Shares of rare-earth mineral companies have been punished amid doubts that the Chinese supply crunch—the country now accounts for 95% of world output—is as bad as surging prices imply. Last week's share sales by executives at North American industry leader Molycorp may also be weighing on sentiment.

"Short interest in the three quoted rare-earth miners outside of China has continued to build since April and stands just off record highs," said Will Duff Gordon, research director for Data Explorers. Despite a recent share-price correction in the three stocks, "it seems that short sellers still believe them to be overvalued."


Molycorp, Avalon and Rare Element Resources all targeted

These non-Chinese rare-mineral stocks have seen share prices fall between 33% and 42% from their highs in the early part of this year. The proportion of Molycorp shares on loan, a proxy for bearish short interest, hit a high of 11.5% on June 15 and has since hovered slightly below that mark, according to Data Explorers. Avalon and Rare Element have also seen more bearish-looking short activity in recent months.

"The peaks of all three of these stocks were a good 40% above where they are now, so some froth has been blown off the beer," said Christopher Ecclestone, mining strategist at Hallgarten & Co.

The "rare earth" name is something of a misnomer. The 17 metals are found in deposits all around the globe and aren't limited to China.

The range of uses is wide. Certain rare-earth elements, like yttrium, have been used to make specialty steel stronger and more durable over the years, but the industry blossomed with the rise of certain high-tech products over the past decade.

Companies like Dyson Appliances Ltd. rely on neodymium magnets to create the powerful suction vortex in their vacuum cleaners. Apple Inc. and Blackberry maker Research In Motion Ltd. use terbium to make their phones smaller, lighter and faster.

Other countries largely dismantled their mining operations as China undercut competitors and came to dominate processing over the years, according to market participants. The country is in the position of restricting supply to some degree, but recent price gains mean that extracting the metals elsewhere is once again profitable.

Outsiders are only now beginning to rebuild that capability. Mr. Ecclestone said the two companies besides Molycorp "don't have a ghost's chance of production in the next two years, maybe more."


Insider Sales also affecting downward pressure

Some of Molycorp's recent declines may be linked to large insider share sales conducted over the past month. Chief Executive Mark Smith reported a sale of nearly 175,000 shares last week, or about 16% of the executive's holdings as of May.

A Molycorp spokesman said that the short interest may not be driven by sentiment, and may instead be the result of complex arbitrage trades. He added that Mr. Smith's sales were "prudent personal financial planning" and said the "vast, vast majority of [Mr. Smith's] personal net worth is tied up in the single stock."

He added that the executive's interests "remain completely aligned with shareholders" and his financial success "still depends almost completely on the success of the company."

The bearish action comes as some Wall Street analysts have grown more positive on the stocks, largely to reflect the jump in prices. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. stock analysts led by Michael F. Gambardella raised their Molycorp target price recently to $105 from $87, in part "to reflect the continued rise in rare-earth prices."

But even some bullish analysts are voicing doubts that the surge in prices will last. Dahlman Rose & Co. analysts Anthony Young and Anthony Rizzuto said this week that the underlying metals have already priced in tighter Chinese quotas, adding that they are "uncertain current levels are sustainable."

The analysts have a "buy" rating on the stock, though they reduced their price target, to $120 from $125.

— Chuin-Wei Yap also contributed to this article.

China stockpiling rare earth metals as prices continue climb

Several rare-earth metals have doubled in the last few weeks

Britain's The Independent reports on REEs and Chinese policy


Rare-earth metal prices spike as China stockpiles supplies

By Clifford Coonan in Beijing

Prices for rare-earth metals, which are used in everything from iPods to flat-screen TVs to missiles, are rising sharply as China builds up a stockpile and cuts quotas, so much so that some industries fear global supplies may be in serious jeopardy.

Rare-earth metals are among some of the most sought-after materials in modern manufacturing, and demand for at least some of them is soon set to outstrip supply.

Japan and the US, the world's biggest importers of rare earths, are concerned that China, which produces more than 95 per cent of the world's supply is trying to limit supplies, and urged Beijing not to use the elements as a trade weapon.

Citing the need for a more sustainable approach to the harvesting of its rare-earth deposits, China's cabinet, the State Council, has authorised a crackdown on unregulated rare-earth mining and has introduced restrictions on exports, causing a spike in rare-earth prices. It is also building up a national reserve of the precious elements.

"These policies are in line with common international practices and the rules of the World Trade Organisation. They have been created out of a sense of responsibility not only for China's own development, but also the development of the world," China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology told the Xinhua news agency.

Rare earths are used in all kinds of modern products because their unique electrical, magnetic, optical and thermal properties make them vital ingredients for some of the most technologically advanced products.

The cost of some of the 17 elements that make up the rare-earth metals has doubled in the last few weeks, with the price of others up by 400 or 500 per cent from the start of the year. Since last year, big government groups like Baotou Iron and Steel have been building up commercial reserves with total capacity of more than 200,000 tonnes, around twice China's annual output, according to Chinese media reports.

Beijing has brought 11 rare-earth mines under state control as it consolidates the industry. Last year, Japan was furious when China slashed exports by 40 per cent and temporarily banned all supplies, after a Chinese fishing boat captain was arrested for sailing too near to a disputed island chain.

China also needs to move quickly on these elements because they are running out fast. The Ministry of Commerce said that between January and November last year, China exported 35,000 tons of rare earth, up 14.5 per cent on 2009. At current rates of depletion, a third of China's rare earths are already used up. There is probably around 15 years worth left at the current rate.

To capitalise on its stocks, China has introduced quotas in recent years, which have cut exports by between five and 12 per cent a year.

There is a strong political dimension to the quotas, but they were also introduced because China is worried about the environmental impact of the mining.

Ceng Qingshou, an elderly rice farmer living in the Guangxi Zhuang region in southwest China, told Xinhua how his rice fields had been contaminated by waste water from a quarry, killing the harvest.

"They paid me 2,400 yuan (£229) to compensate me for my losses last year, but what about this year, and the year after that?" he said.

In other areas rich in rare earths, such as Jiangxi province, rare-earth mines have poisoned wells, leading to anger among farmers.

"While many countries around the world are eager to develop their rare-earth mining industries, China just wants to clean up its act," wrote a Chinese industrial commentator

Watch VANADIUM: Nick Hodge, Energy & Capital

Hot on the heels of Nick Hodge's report on rare earth Beryllium, Nick today published an excellent article on Vanadium, a rare earth metal with tremendous potential to succeed Lithium as the primary component of transportation batteries.

Here are some excerpts from this excellent piece by Nick Hodges:

The Best Thing Since Lithium

By Nick Hodge | Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

The next series of planes commissioned by the Pentagon will not have pilots.

I learned this from a CEO who, because of his company's products, is constantly in talks with companies like Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed, and the like.

“It's all about materials,” he said.

Every day, we're discovering not only new materials and compounds; but also abundant new uses for them.

Take the Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded last year for research on graphene — a one-atom-thick film of carbon that could hold the key to everything from massive data storage on tiny devices to flexible touch screens.

And graphene isn't alone...

Lithium was attractive because of its ability to improve battery storage. And that was enough to allow some investors to retire. But the high-tech industry is so over lithium.

It's discovered vanadium.

It has many uses, but vanadium is best suited for batteries. Take a look at how it stacks up against lithium:




A lithium battery only lasts 3-5 years before it has to be replaced. A vanadium battery can be charged and discharged over 35,000 times, giving it a lifespan of over 35 years.

Vanadium can also charge and discharge simultaneously, can release energy instantly, and is ideal for both transportation grid applications.

In other words, it's the new holy grail of battery materials.

Look at what industry insiders are saying:

Without a doubt, vanadium is growing into one of the world's most important metals about which no one has ever heard.

— John Hykawy (Ph.D., MBA), materials analyst, Byron Capital Markets

Companies are wasting no time embracing the technology.

Japan's GS Yuasa (XETRA: G9y), who sells $3.4 billion worth of batteries annually, is already developing a vanadium battery, saying, "The addition of vanadium not only improves the performance output by 20% and the safety of the batteries; but also potentially lowers their costs compared with a battery using lithium iron phosphate."

The Buffett-backed BYD Company (PK: BYDDF) is also working on a vanadium battery for its electric vehicles.

Subaru's new G4e is also powered by a vanadium battery.

And it's best uses will be for the grid...

Prudent Energy already has a vanadium system attached to a solar installation in Italy and is working on one in California.

Cellstrom — a subsidiary of Germany's Gildemeister (XETRA: GIL) — is working on a Bloom Box-like device with vanadium as the prime material.

Its uses are growing so fast that Terry Perles, former director of global vanadium marketing at Evraz Group, has stated:

The vanadium redox flow battery could lead to an explosive new demand for vanadium. Therefore, it is critical for the vanadium industry to recognize the growing demand resulting from vanadium-based battery systems.

Significant supply shortages of Vanadium Pentoxide are possible in the coming years unless significant additional production, meeting battery application quality requirements, is brought online.

And there's one company about to bring significant new production online...

Go to the Source

Vanadium demand for batteries is expected to grow 30% in the next three years. And supply is already struggling to keep up. In fact demand is expected to outpace it by next year.

This is because up to 90% of the vanadium on the market isn't suitable for batteries. It comes from ferrovanadium, and is only suitable as strengthening alloy for steel.

The good stuff comes from vanadium pentoxide... and only a few companies have access to it.

Lithium and rare earths are the same way. Only certain types are suitable for use. I showed you the performance of some of the companies that have access to the usable kinds in the charts above.


Energizer Resources (OTCBB: ENZR) developing Vanadium resource in Madagascar, Africa


One of the companies with access to vanadium pentoxide is Energizer Resources (OTCBB: ENZR).

The company 100% owns a very large vanadium pentoxide resource in Madagascar. It has the support of the local government, infrastructure being built by a local thermal coal project, and is already in negotiations with steel and battery producers.

As vanadium demand grows, Energizer Resources will make a killing as it brings its resource online. And so will its shareholders.

If you missed the lithium and rare earth booms, this is your chance to get in on the next materials bull market.

Call it like you see it,



Nick Hodge
Editor, Energy and Capital






Dysprosium uses and Rare Earth Elements mining

Rare Beauties; SuperBabes from all over Earth

Here are some rare photos, videos and webpage links of beautiful women from all over Earth!:



Awai Amidu, + More Beautiful Women from Ghana - Ghana's Top Actresses Models Singers Goddesses


Check out this rockin' video featuring gorgeous West African models and actresses, from Ghana to Nigeria and many more West African nations, praise Jah!

Jennifer Lopez - American Idol judge; Actress, Singer, Model

Reon Kadena, Japanese model and actress

Tasmin Lucia Khan, BBC announcer

Honey Lee, former Miss Korea

Divine Ghana Actresses Models Singers Goddesses


Dayan Kodua



Billie-Richael Kwayie



Bernice Thia

MORE Divine Ghana Actresses Models Singers Goddesses



Knockout Chinese Siren, Supermodel Ziyi Zhang







China's Hottest Supermodel, Ziyi Zhang



Ten Top Superbabes: 10 Most Compelling Beautiful Women

Damaris Lewis, American supermodel

Rihanna, USA / Barbados pop singer and superstar

Damaris Lewis, American supermodel

Superbabe Damaris Lewis, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model

Krystle Awurama Simpson, Miss Universe Ghana 2010 / West African supermodel

Jessica White, USA hottie, actress and supermodel

Melat Yante, Miss Ethiopia 2009

Ten Top Superbabes: 10 Most Compelling Beautiful Women




Global Culture, Beautiful Women of Earth links

Images of African Goddesses, African Queens, African Princess

Beautiful and stunning Chinese Supermodel Ziyi Zhang

2010 Miss Universe Ghana – Krystle Awurama Simpson

Website dedicated to Beautiful Black Women - www.BlackIsBeautiful.se

Beautiful Women of Ghana, and from Ghana - Ghana Actresses Models Singers Goddesses

Ten Top Superbabes: 10 Most Compelling Beautiful Women

Twenty North African Women on One Hundred Most Powerful Arab Women list

Egyptian beauties; Actresses, models and Singers from Egypt

Molycorp doubling Rare Earth Metals production, buys processor

Cubantrader from Beacon Equity posted this rare earth mining stocks update yesterday, April 4th, 2011:

Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP) today broke to new high with its announcement that its wholly owned subsidiary, Molycorp Minerals, completed the acquisition of a 90.023% controlling stake in AS Silmet for approximately $89 million. This acquisition provides the first base of operations in Europe and doubles its current rare earth production capacity from approximately 3,000 tonnes per year of rare earth oxide equivalent to 6,000 tonnes. As per the terms of the transaction, the company acquired 80% of the outstanding shares of AS Silmet from AS Silmet Grupp. The 9.977% ownership interest will still be retained by AS Silmet Grupp. The company also acquired the other 10.023% from Treibacher Industrie AG.

AS Silmet will source rare earth feed stocks for production of its products from the company’s Mountain Pass, California rare earth mine and processing facility. This will make it the first rare earth oxide and metal producer in Europe that will not source rare earth materials from China. The company also will change its name to AS Molycorp Silmet as part of the transaction.

“This acquisition provides Molycorp with a European base of operations as well as a larger global customer base, greater rare earth production capacity, and an expanded product line that extends our interests into other strategic metals and technologies,” Mark A. Smith, president and CEO of Molycorp Inc. stated in the press release. “We have already begun shipping feed stocks from Mountain Pass to be processed into finished products at AS Molycorp Silmet. In the short-term, this will greatly increase our ability to supply our products into the increasingly tight global rare earth market and provide a convenient base from which to supply European customers. In the mid- and long-term, AS Molycorp Silmet will help us expand our manufacturing capabilities to a broader range of strategic materials.”

Molycorp is currently trading at $65.63. The stock is up 10.67% from its previous close. Molycorp stock touched the high of $66.20 and lowest price in today’s session is $62.55. The stock is currently trading above its 50-day and 200-day moving average, indicating bullish sentiment.

The company stock has traded in the range of $12.10 and $66.20 during the past 52 weeks. The company’s market cap is $5.42 billion.


Google finance info on Molycorp (NYSE: MCP)

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) global mining news

Here are some recent news and views regarding Rare Earth Metals, mines in development, and uses for Rare Earth Elements.

China raising Rare Earth Elements export taxes by 1,000%+

Capitalvue reported that China moved to strengthen its control over rare earth minerals by announcing a surge of at least 10 fold in the resource taxes on rare earth minerals effective April 1st 2011.

The Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation said that following the tax hikes, the taxes on light rare earth minerals such as bastnaesite and monazite will be CNY 60 per tonne while the taxes on medium and heavy rare earth minerals such as xenotime and ion absorbed rare earth clays will be CNY 30 per tonne.

Rare earth minerals are currently taxed under the category of non-ferrous metals with resource taxes at between CNY 0.5 and CNY 3 per tonne or per cubic meter.

According to an unnamed industry analyst, prices of rare earth minerals could further increase. The current average price of rare earth minerals is about USD 44,361 per tonne an almost two fold surge from the previous year.

There were calls made by government officials at the recently concluded National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference that the taxes on rare earth minerals be hiked in order to reflect the scarcity of the minerals, the environmental cost in mining them and to reduce smuggling and stockpiling by other nations.

China had announced in 2007 that it will gradually reduce the export quota for rare earth minerals and had twice raised the export taxes on selected rare earth minerals earlier this year.

According to the report, China currently has rare earth reserves of 27 million tonnes accounting for only 30% of global reserves down from 70% previously. Based on the current rate of production, reserves of medium and heavy rare earth minerals will last for between 15 and 20 years. This would lead China to become an importer of rare earth minerals.

(Sourced from www.capitalvue.com)



Lynas Corp gearing up to mine Rare Earths in Malawai, Africa

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Malawi expects Australia's Lynas Corp to start mining for rare earth elements in the southern African country "as soon as possible", the natural resources minister said on Tuesday.

Rare earths are some of the world's most obscure elements used is some of the world's most familiar devices including cell phones, flat screen TVs and microwave ovens.

The commodities are almost exclusively produced by China, which unnerved global powers last year by threatening to restrict exports to help it settle political scores.

Grain Malunga, Malawi's minister of natural resources, said the country has awarded exclusive rare earths exploration licences to five foreign companies over the past three years, including Lynas and uranium miners Paladin Energy and Resource Star.

"Some of the companies are now at bankable feasibility studies, other are at basic exploration, other companies, like Lynas, we are expecting them to start actual mining ...as soon as possible," Malunga told Reuters on the sidelines of an African power conference in Johannesburg.

He added: "Rare earth minerals are also associated with radio active minerals like uranium, so what is happening is that we have companies that are looking for uranium, but they are also looking for rare earths."

Malunga said Lynas was the only company with a rare earths mining licence so far and the elements would largely be for exports.

"We don't have the technologies for doing the value addition ...they will do the processing, especially the concentration of the rare earth minerals, and they are going to export to Malaysia or China where further concentration is done," he said.

Africa, Australia and Canada are seen as holding the key to a geopolitical battle being fought to end China's stranglehold over the obscure elements.





China Tax Bodes Well for these 5 Rare-Earth Stocks
Posted by tradegainer37 on Mar 24, 2011 at http://www.beaconequity.com

Rare earth stocks posted gains today as China is expected to impose a tax on rare-earth minerals starting April 1. The shares of miners including:

Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP)
Rare Elements (AMEX: REE)
Avalon Rare Metals (AMEX: AVL)
Arafura Resources Limited (Public, ASX: ARU)

are surging as the prices are expected to rise. The minerals are taxed at 60 yuan ($9.1) per ton of light rare-earth minerals and 30 yuan per ton of medium- and heavy-rare earth minerals.

China is currently the world’s largest producer of rare earths minerals that are used in the manufacture of several electronic and automobile products.

Molycorp gained nearly 7% on the day, closing at $55.28. Rare Elements closed at $12.93, a nearly 3% gain on the day. Avalon was gained less than 1% on the day, closing at $7.46. Arafura Resources was trading at $1.24, up 0.41% from its previous close. China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources (Amex: SHZ) slipped less than 1% to $4.82.

Japan earthquake disaster holding rare earth prices steady

It may have taken calamitous events to slow the bull market in rare earth metals, and the massive devastation in Japan certainly meets the criteria. According to a Reuters.com report on effects of Japan disaster on rare earth metals prices, the effect is unlikely to last more than a few months, when shortages and price rises are expect to continue.

Here's an excerpt from the Reuters article by Scott Malone:

Temporary closures of Japanese businesses, coupled with disruptions to ports and the electric grid as authorities struggle to stop the release of radiation from a quake-hit nuclear plant, may cause delays in shipments of the metals used in everything from Apple iPads to wind turbines. But few rare earth users are likely to turn away previously ordered materials in the face of continued export cutbacks by leading supplier China.

"You're looking at something that probably has an impact of two to four months. We may see some relaxation in prices over that time, more as a knee-jerk reaction," said Jon Hykawy, rare earth analyst with Byron Capital Markets.

Over the long term, no rare earth users are likely to turn away shipments out of concern about the overall current short supply of the materials.

"Deliveries will go on, shipments will go on. There will be delays in processing," Hykawy said at the Asian Metal International Rare Earth Summit in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

Western companies including Molycorp Inc (MCP.N), Lynas Corp Ltd (LYC.AX), Great Western Minerals Group (GWG.V) and Avalon Rare Metals (AVL.TO) are scrambling to redevelop mines capable of producing rare earth elements.

They are largely focusing on restarting mines that were idled at times when prices were lower, but look economical since China last year began reducing its rare earth exports.

China to issue revised 2011 Rare Earth Metals export quotas

In late 2010, Chinese government officials announced a 35% cut in allowable exports of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) during the first half of 2011.

On March 14, 2011, Beijing announced China will issue a second batch of rare earth export quotas later this year, but the total volume for 2011 has yet to be decided, the China Securities Journal said, citing Chinese commerce minister Chen Deming.

Reuters reported today that the decision on how much would be adjusted compared to last year was now in the "last stage of research". China produces around 97 percent of total global rare earth supplies, giving it a stranglehold on a range of elements used in wind turbines, defence technologies and batteries for mobile phones and laptop computers.

Reuters.com article on revisions to china's 2011 rare earth metals export quotas

Rare Earths penny mining stocks; 3 speculative rare earth explorers

For our purposes, we will define a "penny stock" as one with a price below $2 per share, AND a market cap below $100 million. The three companies profiled below are not being presented as "buy" opportunities, but rather possibilities for investigation and accumulation. Do your own research, follow your nose!

Critical Elements - CRE

Price: 0.30 Market cap: $31 million

The former First Gold Exploration Company has two projects in development (one gold, one rare earth) plus a range of rare earth minerals properties in Quebec. With shares around thirty cents and market cap being about 30 mil, there are scenarios where a three to ten bagger could arise.

On 22feb11, CRE announced it had signed an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in eight rare earth element (REE), niobium and tantalum properties in Quebec.

Medallion Resources Ltd - MDL

Price: 0.37 Market cap: $16 million

Medallion is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of mineral resource properties located in North America. The Company’s properties include Rare-earth-element and Lithium Properties, which focuses on the exploration for lithium, rare-earth elements (REE’s) and related energy-technology metals.

Eden Lake Property, and Red Wine Property

The Eden REE Project is located on the east shore of Eden Lake in the Leaf Rapids district of Manitoba. It is approximately 20 kilometers northwest of Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, and 170 kilometers northwest of Thompson, Manitoba.

Medallion's Red Wine HREE Project consists of four mineral licenses, which cover a total of 33.75 square kilometers in southern Labrador. The main license (2225 hectares) is in the southern portion of the Red Wine intrusions, located about 90 kilometers northeast of Churchill Falls, Labrador and 16 kilometers east of provincial route 389.

Commerce Resources - CCE

Price: 0.82 Market cap: $107 million

Commerce Resources Corp. (Commerce) is a Canada-based mineral exploration and development company. The Company’s focuses on tantalum, niobium and rare earth elements (REEs). The Company is in the process of exploring three mineral projects located in Canada: Blue River Tantalum-Niobium Project, and the Eldor and Carbo Rare Earth Projects. The Blue River Project is at an advanced stage of exploration. The Blue River Project, located approximately 30 kilometers north of Blue River, British Columbia. The Eldor Property is located in the Labrador Trough area of northern Quebec



CAUTION to new investors: Investing in common stocks of publicly-listed companies is a high risk (and high potential reward) activity, and choosing speculative mining stocks compounds the risk significantly. Each company profiled on this page, and indeed all junior mining exploration companies, have the risk of going to zero.

Owning investments in individual rare earth elements mining companies is for high risk investors only, and medium risk investors should consider rare earths elements ETFs, precious and rare metals funds, green mutual funds, closed-end clean energy funds, alternative energy index funds and other clean energy sector investments. Even then, these funds should be owned as part of a widely diversified portfolio, and always be considered as longer term investments.

Rare Earth Metals News, Feb 2011: China, Lithium, India, Japan

Rare earth elements have become increasingly newsworthy as the Chinese Government cuts quotas, builds a stockpile and establishes new rules for trading Rare Earth Elements (REEs) domestically and internationally.

February 2011 Rare Earth Metals industry news

China launches new rules for rare earths industry

Tesla and Toyota choosing Lithium over REEs

Wall Street Journal: India and Japan in Rare Earth Elements alliance



Related rare Earth Elements and Green Energy links

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Will Arab Awakening's "Day of Anger" spike world commodity markets?

Van Eck launches investment fund for rare earth metals

Rare Earth Minerals investment fund from Van Eck Global

The Market Vectors® Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF (REMX)seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Market Vectors Rare Earth/Strategic Metals Index, a rules based, modified capitalization weighted, float adjusted index intended to give investors a means of tracking the overall performance of publicly traded companies primarily engaged in a variety of activities that are related to the mining, refining and manufacturing of rare earth minerals and strategic metals.

Rare Earth Metals ETF investing and performance information

Wall Street Journal: China stockpiling Rare Earth Metals in strategic reserve

In addition to reducing the quota on the amount of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) it allows to be exported, the Government of China has reportedly given the okay to the country's leading producer of rare earth metals to start building a stockpile.

It has been reported that say storage facilities built recently in the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia have capacity for more REEs than the 39,813 tonnes China exported last year.

China controls 90%+ of the current global flow of rare earth metals, crucial for their use in cellphones, laptops, electric cars and green energy technologies.

WSJ.com Article on China building strategic reserve of rare earth metals

Rare Earths Mining January News; Stocks, Reserves, Technology

Here are some recent news stories and web articles about rare earth metals mining, rare earth elements companies, news about rare earth stocks and everything related to rare earth metals research:

Jan 30: Germany signs Rare Earth Elements (REEs) deal with Kazakhstan


Jan 30: Dacha Strategic Metals (DSM) seeks $100 million for Rare Earths mining


Jan 28: Nanocomposite Magnets may reduce dependency on Rare Earth Elements


Jan 27: Avalon Rare Metals (AVL) announces increase in indicated reserves at Nechalacho, NWT


Jan 27: Recycling waste can become a significant source of Rare Earth Elements (REEs)


Jan 27: Europe launching rare earths recycling initiatives

Rare Earth Metals Stocks Primer; Sources, Uses, Companies

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are often used in key components of emerging clean energy technologies, so the Green Energy Stocks Investing Network will attempt to provide some basic information and links to rare earth metals mining stocks, rare earth elements research and applied technologies, and generally cover the sector from both a social and investment point of view.

If our goal is to transform this planet from a dinosaur-flesh fueled quagmire into a sustainable, infinite energy powered living machine, then the discovery, careful mining, and delicate processing of REEs must be developed in Canada, the USA, australia etc, as the existing 95-97% reliance on exports from China is neither healthy nor efficient. Rare Earth Elements will continue to be key components of new technology developed and marketed over the coming years and decades, so the sources and distributors need t become far more diversified.

Rare Earth Elements are referred to in a variety of ways that are abbreviated as follows:

RE = rare earth
REM = rare earth metals
REE = rare earth elements
REO = rare earth oxides
LREE = light rare earth elements (La-Sm)
HREE = heavy rare earth elements (Eu-Lu)

Rare Earth Element deposits tend to occur in two ways:

Light rare earth elements (‘LREE’), which include lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), and samarium (Sm)

Heavy rare earth elements (‘HREE’), which are less common and more value, include europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb) and lutetium (Lu)


Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are utilized in hybrid cars, renewable energy such as windpower, and in many types of modern electronics, such as cellphones. Examples of Rare Earth Elements in demand include:


Cerium - A major technological application for Cerium(III) oxide is a catalytic converter for the reduction of CO emissions in the exhaust gases from motor vehicles. In particular, cerium oxide is added into Diesel fuels. Another important use of the cerium oxide is a hydrocarbon catalyst in self cleaning ovens, incorporated into oven walls and as a petroleum cracking catalyst in petroleum refining. 

Cerium(IV) oxide is considered one of the most efficient agents for precision polishing of optical components. Cerium compounds are also used in the manufacture of glass, both as a component and as a decolorizer. For example, cerium(IV) oxide in combination with titanium(IV) oxide gives a golden yellow color to glass; it also allows for selective absorption of ultraviolet light in glass. Cerium oxide has high refractive index and is added to enamel to make it more opaque.

Cerium oxides, and other cerium compounds, go into catalytic converters and larger-scale equipment to reduce the sulfur oxide emissions. Cerium is a diesel fuel additive for micro-filtration of pollutants, and promotes more complete fuel combustion for more energy efficiency.


Dyprosium – The cost of this metal has risen from under $7 a pound in 2006 to over $130 per pound in 2011! Dysprosium is used, in conjunction with vanadium and other elements, in making laser materials. Because of dysprosium's high thermal neutron absorption cross-section, dysprosium oxide-nickel cermets are used in neutron-absorbing control rods in nuclear reactors. Dysprosium-cadmium chalcogenides are sources of infrared radiation which is useful for studying chemical reactions. Because dysprosium and its compounds are highly susceptible to magnetization, they are employed in various data storage applications, such as in hard disks.


Erbium - A silvery-white solid metal when artificially isolated, natural erbium is always found in chemical combination with other elements on Earth. As such, it is a rare earth element which is associated with several other rare elements in the mineral gadolinite from Ytterby in Sweden.

It is commonly used as a photographic filter, and because of its resilience it is useful as a metallurgical additive. Erbium-doped optical silica-glass fibers are the active element in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), which are widely used in optical communications.[12] The same fibers can be used to create fiber lasers. 

Erbium is also used in a variety of medical applications including laser surgery.


Europium - Europium is not found in nature as a free element, and has no known biological role. It is a by-product of nuclear fission, and is used in television sets, lasers, fluorescent lamps and in medical tests for Down's Syndrome and other genetic illnesses.

Europium's use in fluorescent lighting is significant, as it can reduce power usage by 75% relative to traditional incandescent lighting. In the medical field, europium is used to tag complex biochemical agents, helping to trace these materials during tissue research.


Gadolinium - Used in Rare-earth magnets, high refractive index glass or garnets, lasers, x-ray tubes, computer memories, neutron capture, as MRI contrast agent, and as NMR relaxation agent.


Lanthanum - Generally found in the mineral bastnasite, it is extracted through a method known as solvent extraction. Lanthanum is a strategically important REE due to its activity in catalysts that are critical in petroleum refining. Lanthanum additives, called "cracking-agents", have been estimated to increase refinery yield by as much as 10%, while reducing overall refinery energy consumption.


Lutetium - Named for Lutetia, the ancient city which later became Paris, Lutetium is used in PET Scan detectors, and high refractive index glass.


Neodymium – Used for magnets in hybrid cars including Prius, Insight, LEAF, Focus, pretty much EVERY hybrid car model available. Also used in the Dyson Vacuum's magnets.

Neodymium is a critical component of strong permanent magnets. Cell phones, portable CD players, computers and most modern sound systems would not exist in their current form without using neodymium magnets. Neodymium-Iron- Boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets are essential for miniaturizing a variety of technologies. These magnets maximize the power/cost ratio, and are used in a large variety of motors and mechanical systems.


Praseodymium - This REE comprises only 4% of the lanthanide content of bastnasite, but is used as a common coloring pigment. Along with neodymium, praseodymium is used to filter certain wavelengths of light. So praseodymium finds specific uses in photographic filters, airport signal lenses, welder's glasses, as well as broad uses in ceramic tile and glass (usually yellow). When used in an alloy, praseodymium is a component of permanent magnet systems designed for small motors. Praseodymium also has applications in internal combustion engines, as a catalyst for pollution control.

Samarium - Though classified as a rare earth element, samarium is the 40th most abundant element in the Earth's crust and is more common than such metals as tin. Samarium occurs with concentration up to 2.8% in several minerals including cerite, gadolinite, samarskite, monazite and bastnäsite, the last two being the most common commercial sources of the element. These minerals are mostly found in China, the USA, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka and Australia; China is by far the world leader in samarium mining and production.

One of the most important applications of samarium is in samarium-cobalt magnets, which have a nominal composition of SmCo5 or Sm2Co17. They have high permanent magnetization, which is about 10,000 times that of iron and is second only to that of neodymium magnets. However, samarium-based magnets have higher resistance to demagnetization, as they are stable to temperatures above 700 °C (cf. 300–400 °C for neodymium magnets). These magnets are found in small motors, headphones, high-end magnetic pickups for guitars and related musical instruments.[8] For example, they are used in the motors of a solar-powered electric aircraft Solar Challenger and in the Samarium Cobalt Noiseless electric guitar and bass pickups.

Another important application of samarium and its compounds is as catalyst and chemical reagent. Samarium catalysts assist decomposition of plastics, dechlorination of pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as the dehydration and dehydrogenation of ethanol.[9] Samarium(III) triflate (Sm(OTf)3, that is Sm(CF3SO3)3) is one of the most efficient Lewis acid catalysts for a halogen-promoted Friedel–Crafts reaction with alkenes.[66] Samarium(II) iodide is a very common reducing and coupling agent in organic synthesis, for example in the desulfonylation reactions; annulation; Danishefsky, Kuwajima, Mukaiyama and Holton Taxol total syntheses;strychnine total synthesis; Barbier reaction and other reductions with samarium(II) iodide.



Yttrium - Rare in bastnasite, it is usually recovered from even more obscure minerals and ores. Still, almost every vehicle on the road contains yttriumbased materials that improve the fuel efficiency of the engine. Another important use of yttrium is in microwave communication devices. Yttrium- Iron-Garnets (YIG) are used as resonators in frequency meters, magnetic field measurement devices, tunable transistors and Gunn oscillators. Yttrium goes into laser crystals specific to spectral characteristics for high-performance communication systems.

Yttrium (Y) is most commonly found in association with HREE deposits.




Mining company Lynas Corp. (ASX: LYC) is a producer of rare earth metals that has seen its stock triple over the past year.


Rare Earth Minerals stocks, investing in Rare Earth Elements


Here is a list of publicly-traded Rare Earth Elements stocks:

Alkane Resource Ltd. (ASX:ALK, PK:ALKEF)

Arafura Resources Ltd. (ASX:ARU, PK:ARAFF)

Avalon Rare Metals Inc.(TSX:AVL, AMEX:AVL)

Bolero Resources (TSXV: BRU)

Canadian International Minerals Inc (CVE:CIN)

Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)

Cricket Resources Inc. (TSXV:CKV)

Frontier Rare Earths Ltd. (TSX:FRO)

Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. (TSX.V:GWG, OTCBB:GWMGF)

Greenland Minerals and Energy Ltd. (ASX:GGG, PK:GDLNF)

Hudson Resources Ltd. (TSX.V:HUD, OTCQX:HUDRF)

IBC Advanced Alloys (TSXV:IB)

International Montorro Resources (TSXV: IMT)

Kirrin Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:KYM)

Lomiko Metals Inc. (TSX-V:LMR)

Lynas Corporation Limited (ASX:LYC)

Matamec Explorations Inc. (TSX.V:MAT, PK:MTCEF)

Medallion Resources Ltd (TSX-V: MDL)

Molycorp Inc (NYSE:MCP)

Navigator Resources Ltd. (ASX:NAV)

Pele Mountain Resources (TSX:GEM)

Quantum Rare Earth Developments (TSX.V:QRE)

Quest Minerals(QRM.V)

Rare Element Resources (TSX-V:RES)

Stans Energy Corp. (TSX: V.RUU)

Tasman Metals (TSX: TSM.V)



As of January 2011, here is a list of 17 Rare Earth Elements mining projects (TMR Advanced Rare-Earths Project Index), and the rare earth minerals mining companies that are behind these ventures (list courtesy of Resource Investor – News That Trades)

Bear Lodge (Bull Hill Zone) – Wyoming, USA : Rare Element Resources Ltd. (TSX.V:RES, AMEX:REE)

Cummins Range – Western Australia, Australia : Navigator Resources Ltd. (ASX:NAV)

Dubbo – New South Wales, Australia – Alkane Resource Ltd. (ASX:ALK, PK:ALKEF)

Hoidas Lake – Saskatchewan, Canada : Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. (TSX.V:GWG, OTCBB:GWMGF)

Kangankunde – Balaka, Malawi : Lynas Corporation Ltd. (ASX:LYC, PK:LYSCF)

Kutessay II – Chui, Kyrgyzstan : Stans Energy Corp. (TSX.V:RUU)

Kvanefjeld – Kujalleq, Greenland : Greenland Minerals and Energy Ltd. (ASX:GGG, PK:GDLNF)

Mount Weld – Western Australia, Australia : Lynas Corporation Ltd. (ASX:LYC. PK:LYSCF)

Mountain Pass – California, USA : Molycorp Inc. (NYSE:MCP)

Nechalacho (Thor Lake Basal Zone) – Northwest Territories, Canada : Avalon Rare Metals Inc.(TSX:AVL, AMEX:AVL)

Nolans Bore – Northern Territory, Australia : Arafura Resources Ltd. (ASX:ARU, PK:ARAFF)

Norra Karr – Småland, Sweden : Tasman Metals Ltd. (TSX.V:TSM, PK:TASXF, F:T61)

Sarfartoq (ST1 Zone) – Qaasuitsup, Greenland : Hudson Resources Ltd. (TSX.V:HUD, OTCQX:HUDRF)

Steenkampskraal – Western Cape, South Africa : Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. (TSX.V:GWG, OTCBB:GWMGF) & Rare Earth Extraction Co. Ltd.

Strange Lake (B Zone) – Quebec, Canada : Quest Rare Minerals Ltd. (TSX.V:QRM)

Zandkopsdrift – Northern Cape, South Africa : Frontier Rare Earths Ltd. (TSX:FRO)

Zeus (Kipawa) – Quebec, Canada : Matamec Explorations Inc. (TSX.V:MAT, PK:MTCEF)



Member companies of the Bloomberg Rare Earth Mineral Resources Index and their respective weightings:

Company Ticker Symbols Weighting (%)

Molycorp Inc. NYSE:MCP 16.4

Lynas Corporation Ltd. ASX:LYC, PK:LYSCF 15.0

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. TSX:AVL, AMEX:AVL 11.4

Rare Element Resources Ltd. TSX.V:RES, AMEX:REE 11.2

Arafura Resources Ltd. ASX:ARU, PK:ARAFF 10.0

Greenland Minerals and Energy Ltd. ASX:GGG, PK:GDLNF 6.7

Quest Rare Minerals Ltd. TSX.V:QRM, PK:QSURD 6.3

Frontier Rare Earths Ltd. TSX:FRO 5.9

Alkane Resources Ltd. ASX:ALK, PK:ALKEF 5.0

Tasman Metals Ltd. TSX.V:TSM, PK:TASXF, F:T61 4.6

Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. TSX.V:GWG, OTCBB:GWMGF 4.2

Navigator Resources Limited ASX:NAV 2.1

Matamec Explorations Inc. TSX.V:MAT, PK:MTCEF 1.2



Here is a Rare Earth Elements (REE) Map of United Sates:



Here are some US States that contain rare earth metals deposits:

The map shows locations in the United State of rare earth deposits. (source: USGS.gov) Most have had limited testing.

Note: Thorium, while not a rare earth element, often occurs together with rare earths.

A breakdown of the rare earth metals or possible rare earth metals by location is as follows:

Rare Earth Elements deposits in USA:

Alaska (Bokan Mountain) – Yttrium

Alaska (Salmon Bay) – Thorium

California (Mountain Pass) – Rare earth oxides

California (Music Valley Area) – Yttrium

Colorado (Iron Hill Carbonatite Complex) – Carbonatites, which may contain some rare earth elements.

Colorado (Wet Mountains Area) – Thorium Oxide

Idaho (Diamond Creek) – Ree Oxide and Thorium

Idaho (Hall Mountain) – Thorium

Idaho (Lemhi Pass District/Idaho-Montana) – Thorium (largest concentration in the United States)

Illinois (Hicks Dome) – Rare Earth metals include: Thorium, Yttrium, Cerium, Neodymium, and Dysprosium.

Missouri (Pea Ridge) – Rare earth elements oxides

New Mexico (Capitan Mountains, Red Hills, Gold Hill area & White Signal district, Lemitar & Chupadera mountains, Petaca district) – Thorium

New Mexico (El Porvenir District) – Samples of quartzite contain: Thorium, Lanthanum, & Yttrium.

New Mexico (Gallinas Mountains) – Rare earths oxides and Cerium oxide.

New Mexico (Laughlin Peak) – Yttrium (alongside Thorium) and Cerium.

New Mexico (Wind Mountain/Cornudas Mountains) – Lanthanum, Neodymium, and Yttrium.

New York (Mineville Iron District) – Rare earths oxides from Apatite content.

Wyoming (Bear Lodge Mountains) – REE oxides.

Some other general areas in the US with possible rare earth metals resources:

SE United States – Phosphorite deposits from North Carolina to Florida along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. There is no estimate as of yet for the potential rare earth elements in phosphate deposits. Some analysis has indicated Yttrium and Lanthanum are present.

Placer Deposits

Idaho (Monazite districts in Long Valley, Bear Valley, Boise Basin, Burgdorf-Warren area, & Elk City-Newsome area) – Analyses indicate 63% REE oxides from the Monazites here.

North & South Carolina (Piedmont region) – Rare earth oxides/Thorium

Florida & Georgia (Beach placer deposits) – Rare earth elements oxides/Thorium, hosted in Monazite.





Many Happy Returns in 2011!


(Note of Caution: Investing in individual equity securities is for high risk investors, and junior mining stocks have added speculative risk on top of that. Medium risk investors should seeking exposure to the industry may want to research and invest in resource funds with a significant Rare Earth Elements component, and even then as part of a widely diversified portfolio)



Bookmark this page in your Faves, join the RSS blog feed and stay tuned for more 2011 Rare Earth Elements stocks and investments in upcoming posts!


Sources, wikipedia, dailyreckoning.com.au, windpowerstockstowatch.blogspot.com, Google Finance, Yahoo finance, Bloomberg, StcokWatch