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.