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GeneralREEs in short supply

1st Sep 2009 00:36 UTCEd Godsey

This recent article says lanthanum, dysprosium, neodymium, and terbium are in short supply as demand for them in hybrid cars and wind turbines grows rapidly.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE57U02B20090831

1st Sep 2009 06:03 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

I guess it is time to sell the lithium stocks as the article says:

"Yet another rare earth metal, lanthanum, is a major ingredient for hybrid car batteries."

and goes on to say:

"Each electric Prius motor requires 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of neodymium, and each battery uses 10 to 15 kg (22-33 lb) of lanthanum. That number will nearly double under Toyota's plans to boost the car's fuel economy, he said."

They mention Thor lake currently being explored by Avalon Resources (AVL on the Vancouver exchange). It was up another 3% today.

1st Sep 2009 07:15 UTCRock Currier Expert

Each day, thousands of travelers from Los Angeles hoping to make their fortune in Los Vegas, drove past the Mountain Pass mine on Interstate 15. The mine was for years was the main source of Europium used as the used as the red phosphor in the now old fashioned CRT television sets. They apparently used a set big fractionating columns to extract and purify the Europium from the other more common REES found in the predominately Bastnesite (so Ive been told) ore. Sorry, apparently few if any good crystals have ever been found. I was told by a friend who visited the place on occasion that they put the europium oxide powder in 5 gallon pails that were each worth a small fortune, and shipped them out via standard UPS pickups once a week. Most of their production of other rare earths had pilled up for years in 55 gallon drums waiting for a market which from the news reports has finally arrived. When production of color CRT TV tubes tapered of and stooped a few years ago, they could no longer justify running the mine. The mining regulations and environmental regulations are increasing all the time in the third world, but in the US and particularly California, they are positively draconian. They must really need the stuff badly if they are going to reopen the mine. It may not help the economy of California all that much I think, because most of the employees would probably live in near by Nevada and commute across the border to the mine.

1st Sep 2009 14:13 UTCGreg Kokolus

The Mountain Pass mine was recently a topic in I believe the May issue of the Atlantic magazine.

The impetus for trying to get the mine reopened is that China has stepped to the foreground in the production of rare earth minerals.

Because of cheaper production costs and looser environmental regulations this has allowed them to produce these materials at a reduced cost.

With the drive towards battery powered autos and other technologies requiring rare earth minerals the new owners of Mountain Pass feel that it is economically viable to reopen even with all the environmental requirements necessary. It is also been suggested that the mine is low in radioactive components which makes processing easier

One goverment official likened our current reliance on Chinese rem's comparable to the hold that the mideast has on oil.

This would also be a key consideration in the necessity to reopen.

1st Sep 2009 15:15 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

AVL up 6% to $2.73. Who owns Mountain Pass?

1st Sep 2009 16:59 UTCSaul Krotki Expert

The current owner is Molycorp Minerals. See New York Times, 1Sep09, B1, "China Tightens Grip on Rare Minerals."

1st Sep 2009 17:02 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

Thanks Saul. Molycorp Minerals are privately held.

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