Steenkampskraal Resource fulfills its Promise to Great Western’s Shareholders

Today, Great Western Minerals Group ( ‘Great Western’ or the Company, CVE: GWG) has filed a NI 43-101 resource estimate for the Steenkampskraal Rare Earth mine in South Africa. The report has indicated an estimate of 45,500 tons with 22.3% total rare earth oxides (TREO – and including Yttrium), 21.46% light rare earth oxides (LREO) and 0.86% heavy rare earth oxides (HREO). The inferred category shows 86,000 tons grading at 15.7% TREO, 15.14% LREO and 0.61% HREO. Great Western also published estimates related to two...

Rare Earth Elements in Medicine

I had the good fortune of being invited by the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy to organize and moderate a Rare earth panel at its annual Conference, this year convened in Edmonton May 6th-9th). The theme of the conference was ‘From Prospect to Product’. The CIM is also committed to engaging student participation in its programs. I had the good fortune to be introduced to Josh Rosen of the University of Waterloo’s Department of Chemical Engineering some months earlier. So I took the liberty...

Orion takeover rekindles rare earth corporate story

Buy in a buyer’s market - and that is what Conglin Yue, an Australian based Chinese investor has clearly decided to do. His company has made a friendly takeover offer for Orion Metals (ASX:ORM) and its Killi Killi project in Western Australia near the border with the Northern Territory - which is a heavy rare earths play, although recently neglected by investors. Yue’s company, which has also invested in Lynas Corp and Northern Minerals, is making a cash offer for Orion at A16c a share...

“The Best Rare Earth Company in the World”

If you wanted a walk down rare earth industry memory lane, then you should have attended Neo Material Technologies Inc.’s (TSX: NEM) historical Annual General Meeting (AGM) this morning. The critical agenda item was shareholder approval of the acquisition of Neo Material Technologies by Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP). Overwhelmingly in favor of the deal, 99.9% of Neo Material Technologies shareholders agreed that next year, Neo Material Technologies will become Molycorp.Chairman Peter O’Connor lead the AGM, respectfully addressing shareholders and acknowledged that Mark Smith, President, CEO...

Sustainability: The Roadmap for Mining Success

May 29, 2012 -- Tracy Weslosky, CEO for Pro-Edge Consultants Inc. (www.pro-edge.com) interviews Mark Wiseman, Vice President, Sustainability for Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX: AVL | NYSE AMEX: AVL) (www.avalonraremetals.com). Mark tells us about his role and how sustainability is a key part of Avalons business operations and decision making. He says that sustainability starts at the top and to make sure you have an organization that is built on sustainability, decisions are made in an environmentally and health and safety and community friendly manner...

Analysts Rev Rare Earth Sector: Molycorp Price Target Increase, VSA Initiates Mkango Coverage, and Moreno Adds Tasman & Montero to her Buy Basket

On the docket for tomorrow morning is Neo Material Technologies Inc.’s (TSX: NEM) Annual Special Meeting of Shareholders set to begin at 10am. Shareholders will vote on “the Arrangement” as it is termed in the Management Proxy Circular, referring to the acquisition of Neo Material Technologies by Molycorp Inc. (NYSE: MCP). Specifically, Neo Material Technologies will be acquired by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Molycorp called MCP Exchangeco Inc. if at least two-thirds of shareholders cast votes of approval for the deal. Dahlman Rose Co. (Young,...

Toyota’s Prius Becomes A Global Top Three.

Since the start of Prius sales in Japan in 1997, Toyota has sold 4 million hybrid-electric vehicles worldwide, including 1.5 million in the U.S., the company said May 22. In the U.S., typically Toyota’s top market for Prius, sales jumped 42 percent in the first quarter, and 56 percent through April to a record 86,027. U.S. sales of the model since its 2000 introduction, including the new variations, total 1.18 million vehicles, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Global sales increased 125 percent. Has the...

Lynas Shares Move Upward Gaining 17.88%

Readers of RareMetalBlog will know the events that have played out so far in the story of Lynas Corporation Ltd.’s Advanced Materials Processing (LAMP) facility in Malaysia. On May 8, 2012, we published Cloak and Dagger Mystery: The Lynas Saga that gave a rundown of the pertinent events going back to January 22, 2008, when Lynas was granted a manufacturing license to produce rare earth oxides and carbonates at Gebeng Industrial Estate, Kuantan. But what’s happened since May 8, 2012? May 25, 2012:Datuk Seri Dr....

Demand for Rare Earth Elements Drives Sourcing to 'Mystical' Myanmar

While the local community in Malaysia have concerns about their health and safety stemming from historical misconceptions of the rare earths processing facility being akin to Bukit Mehra, the notion of doing business with a country known for corruption in the resource sector and systemic human rights violations should raise even greater concern for the rare earth industry? According to an article published by the NYDailyNews.com today, “The world is now looking at Myanmar (Burma) to have an alternate source of this precious commodity.” The...

China’s Bad Rare Earth Element Example.

At the same time, they have contended that by following this policy, Beijing is pressurising international manufacturers to move to China. One possible example of this could be the division of General Motors, which deals with miniaturised magnet research, which shut down its US operations, and moved its entire staff to China in 2006.When a government compulsorily overvalues one type of money and undervalues another, the undervalued money will leave the country or disappear from circulation into hoards, while the overvalued money will flood into...

RareMetalBlog Week-in-Review: World's Richest Woman Announced While Markets Fight for Lines of Resistance

My, my – what a week we have had: Frontier Rare Earths just announced that they are repurchasing some of their shares, Pele Mountain is cashing up, U.S. Rare Earths Stakes More Claims, Matamec’s Pilot Plant is on Schedule – and me? I have had at least one yeller (losing one’s life savings will do this) on the phone per day as I reroute their anxious inquiries to the respective IR professionals, and just for fun, the media announces the world’s richest woman... With a...

The Big Issue: German demand, Australia's forecasts, Japan's cerium breakthrough, Lynas latest

Germany is being increasingly active in its moves to secure security of supply of rare earth elements. Berlin has been working with Australia on this, and it is known that the Foreign Affairs department in Canberra has arranged at least one local expert to go and brief German officials on the present REE scene. Now this week a delegation from Western Australia has been in Germany (they’ll also go to France and the United Kingdom) to promote Australia’s rare earth and lithium sector. The 17-member...

Letter from Shanghai: Rare Earths Incorporated into China State Monopoly

Every day, I think on some level we all take notice of what is working in our lives. Appraising what isn’t working is redundant as these examples are seemingly endless and usually stare us in the face. One blessing in our office is undoubtedly our team and in particular, we have had the good fortune of a substantially talented leader in the online media world in our office assisting us with the development of RareMetalBlog.He has been pointing out the obvious challenges, but what surprised...

PEA Confirms Strong Market Viability for Commerce Resources’ Ashram REE Project

Commerce Resources Corp. (‘Commerce’, CCE.V) has released the results of a NI 43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Ashram Rare Earth Element, (AREE) from its property in Eldor, Quebec. The PEA has validated Commerce’s enthusiasm for the project and confirmed that the deposit presents four significant advantages which make the Ashram deposit one of the most economically sound REE projects in North America. The deposit is very large – one of the largest in the world and certainly one of the largest outside...

Magswitch’s Revolutionary Engineering Feat with Rare Earth Magnets Adds a Force Field for Green Energy

Imagine having the ability to turn powerful rare earth magnets on and off without a power source and control the magnetic ‘field’ radius in the process? Unquestionably a green energy driver of the future, David Morton, CEO and Director of Magswitch impressed me in his presentation in San Francisco about Magswitch’s patented technology on harnessing the power of rare earth magnets. Magswitch technology turns magnets on and off – and this technology impacts every industry from robotics, to oil and gas and even national security....

Now Goldie Goes Green. Whatever Next?

Yesterday we were writing of NASCAR taking notice of how technology progress has generated green opportunities ahead for NASCAR without the need for public subsidy. Green technology has moved on from the 1990s and early 2000s. Today it’s the turn of Goldman Sachs to jump on to the green energy bandwagon. Green energy, much of it relying on rare earth elements for recent advances in efficiency, and in megawatt grid storage developments, is on something of a small roll in north America, though it’s never...

NASCAR Goes Green. Rare Earth Elements Next?

When it comes to environmental remediation and cutting edge technology invention and innovation, America often leads the way and lags at the same time. Its scientists, often part funded by the US military or other agents of the federal government, usually in collaborative partnership with several US universities and labs, occasionally in partnership with Asian or European universities, are usually at the cutting edge of new advances in materials handling and graphene research. Yet when it comes to the environmental side of new technology, the...

Move Over Canada, the Aussies Are Coming To Europe.

“The ability to process rare earths is key to the development of the sector and Germany and France are keen to apply their expertise and technology to this technically challenging field in association with Australian expertise.”Lately we have all been focused on the Australian-Malaysian Lynas saga, where Lynas seems to be unfairly being delayed in getting to second into the non Chinese rare earth elements production. Hopefully a story that ends next month with Malaysia authorising Lynas to fire up their LAMP, (their REE refinery...

Globe Splits Operation - Says Rare Earth Elements Need Their Own Vehicle

Globe Metals Mining has taken a strategic decision - it will separate rare earths and rare metals. The Australian company will not only dual list on the Toronto exchange, but will also float a rare earth-focused company holding all its non-niobium properties. The reason is that Globe is trading around its cash backing, and all the value is attributed to its niobium project in Malawi. Globe will be the niobium play, the new company will have three REE projects - Mount Muambe in Mozambique (which...

China's Rare Earth Elements - Much Ado About Nothing?

While I was busy moving at the end of last week and at the weekend, there was a global conspiracy to bury bad news while this editor was away from his laptop, unable to comment. Note this dinosaur still operates via an obsolescent laptop, rather than a losable smart phone, i-Pad or equivalent. First China announced their revised rare earth element export quotas. The G-8 decided to hold a shindig at Camp David to sort out the Euro crisis and world trade. NATO decided to...

The 3 Major REE Indices Weigh In on the Top 5 Rare Earth Companies

On March 28, 2012(click here) REE Stocks Company Ltd. simultaneously launched three indices focused on the Rare Earth Element (REE) industry: the REE Global Index, the REE Leaders Index, and the REE Shariah Index. Initial response to this announcement has been outstanding, garnering interest from a global audience. Today, REE Stocks is pleased to provide an update on these indices by releasing the names and weightings of the constituent companies for each REE Index. Financial institutions, investment banks and asset managers are finding the REE...

Week-in-Review: China quotas, Japan's strategy, magnets latest

Due to the holiday weekend in Canada, the Week-in-Review report comes this week from Sydney. Sorry about that: it’s a bit like tuning into your favourite talk show host and finding they’ve gone on vacation and someone far less interesting is “standing in this week”. Well, the big news ofthis week - seemingly - was the latest batch of rare earth export quotas handed outby Beijing. “Seemingly” because, as is so often the case with REE stories, the mainstream media misunderstood. So many reports informed...

Who is the 5th Largest Rare Earth Ore Body Outside of China?

May 18, 2012 – In this week’s RareMetalBlog interview, Tracy Weslosky, CEO for Pro-Edge Consultants Inc. (www.pro-edge.com) interviews Richard Beazley, Managing Director for Peak Resources Ltd. (ASX: PEK) (www.peakresources.com.au). Among the 400+ publicly listed rare earth companies around the world, Peak Resources consistently ranks among the top 30 for market capitalization and their flagshipNguallaRare Earth Project in Tanzania is the fifth largest ore body in the world, outside of China. Among the top seven rare earth properties in the world, theNguallaRare Earth Project is of...

China’s Rare Earth Export Quotas and Losing Everything that Matters

As a follow up to export quotas announced in December 2011 which totalled 10,546 tonnes, China today announced additional allocations totalling 10,680 tonnes -- bringing the total allocated amount of exportable rare earths to 21,226 tonnes, according to Peoples’ Republic of China Ministry of Commerce website. Additional quotas were granted to companies that recently passed environmental verifications and the Ministry further added that companies failing to meet environment-protection standards by July 31, 2012, will not be eligible to export rare earths this year. Online news...

New electrode material could lead to powerful rechargeable sodium batteries

Excuse me… did I say sodium, the same stuff my doctor suggested I watch more closely? What she may not have known is that my having being bitten by the rare metal bug, I might not be looking for sodium in all the right places… or maybe I have. I’m not sure how many of you are aware that sodium may be an attractive candidate to replace lithium in batteries. Sodium is cheaper and more widely available around the world. But apparently, according to Melissae...

Mkango Resources Announces Positive Results at Songwe Hill Rare Earth Project in Malawi

Amid the continued red rare earth market this morning there is still positive rare earth news showing that rare earth companies are in fact making progress to achieve benchmarks in a timely manner. Today, Mkango Resources Limited (TSXV: MKA) has announced results from three drill holes from the Stage 2 drilling program at its Songwe Hill rare earth project in Malawi. Here are the highlights: The Songwe Hill rare earth project is 100% owned by Mkango. The site was subject to previous exploration in the...

Malaysia Gets Rare Earth Element Friendly.

It seems that the tide has turned in Lynas’ favour in Malaysia. The recent rare earth element symposium in Kuala Lumpur, seems to have caught the media’s and the public’s attention as to the future possibilities in the REE sector. This week the University of Malaysia Pahang announced that they will set up a Rare Earth Research Centre with possible collaboration from Germany and China. Yes that’s right China. Well why not, China has a joint venture with Malaysia just getting underway with the Malaysia-China...

When Swimming With Sharks Take Some Rare Earth Elements.

Particularly effective are rare-earth metals like samarium, neodymium, and praseodymium.When swimming with sharks take along some rare earth elements, particularly the magnetic ones, according to American chemist Eric Stroud and reported by the BBC today. A whole new use for REEs might unfold if further research shows this to be a viable way of protecting beaches and swimmers in our oceans. When one adds this to recent advances in printable graphene and in wearable graphene, is the dawn of a magnetic protected swimmer or surfer...

Building Assets in the Resource Sector Equals Success for Forbes & Manhattan

After reviewing the market today, thought I would stay positive and write about someone who is doing well in our sector and undoubtedly gobbling up opportunity – Forbes Manhattan. A private merchant bank, they love the resource sector so much (as do we), they presently have 40 group companies, 90 resource projects with assets in 29 countries, and 7 producing assets. Forbes Manhattan Group companies have a market capitalization of more than $8 billion, including historical successes; and the total funds raised by their companies...

China's REE mine allocations - will they cut in the second half?

China’s mining quotas for rare earths ovr January through June this yearare out and we are indebted to Gareth Hatch for deconstructing the figures. And for pointing out that perhaps China has come up with a strategy to frustrate the World Trade Organization - slow down mine production and plead that it has barely enough REE to keep its own industrial wheels turning. So how can it possible export more, said with a look of innocence. We’ll get to all that in a minute. But...