China's Dominance of Vital Rare-Earth Elements May Be Over!

Hey ATS came across this article and thought it was interesting. China has had a near monopoly of vital rare minerals that they have used to benefit themselves not only in an economic way but also for political gain as well. That may soon come to an end due to the discovery of what could be the worlds largest deposit of untapped rare-earth elements found in Nebraska.

The small Nebraska town of Elk Creek (population 112), may not be so small much longer. Reports suggest that the southeastern Nebraska town may be sitting on the world’s largest untapped deposit of “rare earth” minerals, which have proved to be indispensable to a slew of high-tech and military applications such as laser pointers, stadium lighting, electric car batteries and sophisticated missile-guidance systems.

The potential mining operation, the first in the U.S. in a decade, could have an international impact as well. U.S. officials and lawmakers in Congress have been eager to break the near monopoly on global production of the 17 rare-earth elements in China, which has shown its willingness to use its power in the market for political ends.

www.impactlab.net...-84103

reply to post by TV_Nation

China, which has shown its willingness to use its power in the market for political ends.

Let's just hope they don't try to claim this as a collatoral asset for the debt we are liable for.

Originally posted by TV_Nation
Hey ATS came across this article and thought it was interesting. China has had a near monopoly of vital rare minerals that they have used to benefit themselves not only in an economic way but also for political gain as well. That may soon come to an end due to the discovery of what could be the worlds largest deposit of untapped rare-earth elements found in Nebraska.

The small Nebraska town of Elk Creek (population 112), may not be so small much longer. Reports suggest that the southeastern Nebraska town may be sitting on the world’s largest untapped deposit of “rare earth” minerals, which have proved to be indispensable to a slew of high-tech and military applications such as laser pointers, stadium lighting, electric car batteries and sophisticated missile-guidance systems.

The potential mining operation, the first in the U.S. in a decade, could have an international impact as well. U.S. officials and lawmakers in Congress have been eager to break the near monopoly on global production of the 17 rare-earth elements in China, which has shown its willingness to use its power in the market for political ends.

www.impactlab.net...-84103

With such great news why haven't we heard it on the MSM? Why wouldn't we be rejoicing in the streets? Is there some reason it is quiet? Are these areas close to government properety that may need "expanding?"

www.nature.com... minerals on the sea floor.
Sorry for the one liner but too tired to bother

Originally posted by star in a jar
www.nature.com... minerals on the sea floor.
Sorry for the one liner but too tired to bother

From your article...

But accessing the treasure trove of key elements on the ocean floor will be very expensive and potentially harmful to sea-floor ecology.

Mining minerals from the sea floor is much more taxing then doing it on land.

Originally posted by speculativeoptimist
reply to post by TV_Nation

 

China, which has shown its willingness to use its power in the market for political ends.

Let's just hope they don't try to claim this as a collatoral asset for the debt we are liable for.

As long as we keep paying the interest on the debt, which we will as we CAN keep printing money, China can't claim anything. Not saying printing money is a good thing, but our government will do it over failing to pay the debt.

I wonder if the land owners in that town (all 100 something of them) own the mineral rights for their land? If they do, they will probably become multi-millionaires overnight. If not, they'll probably sell their land cheap and get out before their land turns into a big mine.

There was also a large amount of some rare elements found in Afghanistan if I remember correctly, you'd think the both of these discoveries combined would really put a kink in China's plans to control the market on these resources.

Originally posted by Turkenstein
With such great news why haven't we heard it on the MSM? Why wouldn't we be rejoicing in the streets? Is there some reason it is quiet? Are these areas close to government properety that may need "expanding?"

New Rare Earth Mining Proposal...Double Jeopardy for Residents

This is just one example of many articles to be found about the hazards and the environmental damage that occurs with the active mining of rare earth minerals.

Maybe this is why no one is rejoicing. It is a third-world industrial operation (i.e. too expensive to do safely elsewhere), not suitable for developed countries, and only China could get away with it cheaply.

Even China has started to resist growing their monopoly of rare earth at the expense of their environment:

www.chinadaily.com.cn...
Is anyone sure they want this kind of operation in their areas? And,,,if the operation is approved, then this may be why it is quiet and not a celebration? FYI rare earth is not rare, just the willingness of companies to take on the risk and the hazards; and China is becoming less willing to take it on.

edit on 8-8-2011 by lakesidepark because: (no reason given)

Don’t worry, mister O will get a bill passed to declare it a national wildlife park or something, thereby preventing even one pound of it from being extracted.