THIS POST
WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 13, 2011
Rare Earth – the Evolving Drama (Part II)
Note: this is re-post of my 2009 Blog - some links maybe outdated, but I
provide 2011 updates too
Aside Chinese
companies there are very few private or publicly traded REE companies. In this
final part of my narration, I will look into them based on the size of
projects.
Outside China
there are four major REE tenements in the world that are being developed. This
picture from Greenland
Minerals and Energy Ltd latest corporate presentation gives a general understanding of potential:
As I mentioned
in the previous Blog post Greenland Minerals and Energy Ltd is emerging as one of
the most attractive players in the REE market. A lot of materials are on the
corporate Web-site, as well as in these references:
·
Kvanefjeld Rare Earths Project Takes a Step Closer to
Reality by Metal
Miner that discusses plans for AIM listing by Greenland Minerals and Energy Ltd
·
Greenland Minerals and Energy: UraniumLetter places $1.20
share price target by
Proactive Investors
Another major
resource of REE is the open-pit mine at Mountain Pass, California, which is
developed by Colorado-based Molycorp Minerals. Completed description of the tenement is provided here. As I cited in my previous post, you may read the report prepared by the Molycorp Minerlas, that was prepared for Congressional Leaders in January 2009. A very
good discussion on the American REE deposits is submitted by Jack Lifton in Seeking Alfa – with good links to some video materials. (Also read Jack Lifton’s The Rare Earth Story). Mountain Pass has a long history, and in the XXIst century it seems that
it is started resurrection – when after 15-years of regulatory reviews in 2004
Molycorp started its 30-years mining plan. It is supposed that by 2012
mining will resume at Mountain Pass at the rate of 1,000 tons of ore a day.
The Thor Lake
Rare Metals Project is developed by AVALON RARE METALS INC. and is located approximately 100 km southeast of the City of
Yellowknife, Canada. Watch this interview with Avalon CEO and at the 2011 update on the development of the project.
Mount Weld REE
deposit is being developed since 2001 by Lynas
Corporation Limited – an
Australian miner that is listed in America (Pink Sheets) and Australia (ASX).
The company has developed a remarkable RED (Rare earths direct)
Integrated Supply Chain that is well described it its 2009 Annual report. Detailed description of the latest developments in Mount Weld Project are
provided in Lynas Presentation at the 5th
International Rare Earths Conference . This year witnessed a number of significant events for Lynas:
initially everything looked like China Non-Ferrous Mining was going to buy 52% of company’s equity but in
September the Australian regulators blocked the deal. This lead to market fund-raising effort which ended in November with A$450 million.
LYNAS CORPORATION LIMITED (LYC) ASX page with all relevant information
Arafura Resources (Australia)
operates a Nolan Rare Earths project in the Northern Territory of Australia and
at this time is also in the process ofgetting investments from Chinese company. The company describes its projects in this presentation. All information can be found
also in ASX page. 2011 Update: Arafura Resources – On Track to Supply Rare Earths To
Users Worldwide in 2013
Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. is a Canadian-based company with six rare earth exploration and
development properties in North America with an option to participate in the
development of a sizable property in South Africa. More information on the
company is on their Web-site and here.
From investor point of view, REE provide an excellent opportunity. Just look at this stunning evolution of prices:
The global
economic slowdown (starting from the end of 2008) resulted in inventory
destocking in many industries – trying to preserve cash many industries used
their existing inventories. This resulted in significant plunge of raw
materials prices – that is surely true for REE. However, with recent
developments in China, many analysts speak about emerging deficiencies of REE
on the market. That would certainly bring the prices to the old levels.
Some useful links:
Greenland Minerals and Energy 2009 annual report – first-rate detailed description of REE world market
A valuable update on the “5th International Rare Earths Conference” is presented by The Anchor House, Inc. Rare Earths at Center Stage: Happy in Hong Kong
Investors Take a Closer Look at Rare Earth Elements
USGS Commodity Mineral Survey of the Rare Earths released in September 2009
Rare Element and Rare Earth Element Mineralization and Exploration in Ontario
Rare Earth Elements
Developing Australia’s rare earths industry by Arafura
Interest in rare earths stimulated by concerns over possible Chinese export curbs – by Mining Weekly
Rare earths are vital, and China owns them all
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