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The rare earth topic we have been covering on our blog is no longer a niche topic discussed solely by industry types and commodity traders. The latest issue of Technology Review India, published by MIT, also features the rare earth crisis and its implications.  While access to the full version of the article requires a subscription, the video below provides a glimpse into the technologies driving demand while touching on China’s near-monopoly position. Watch the video and please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

In light of last week’s news that China is tightening its rare earths exports yet again, I find it encouraging to see that academia is also raising concerns over the issue.

Adding fuel to the fire of the rare-earth crisis we have been following on our blog, the Australian Associated Press reports that the Chinese government announced today its decision to further tighten rare earths export quotas, previously applied to “pure” rare earths only, to include iron alloys containing more than 10 percent of rare earths by weight.

If reports are true – and we’ll be watching for more detailed assessments – this latest tightening by China, which accounts for more than 95 percent of the world’s rare earths supply, could cause prices for these critical materials to soar even higher, and underscores the urgency of the situation. It is time for import-dependent nations including our own to rethink our mineral policies and end dependencies that are politically and economically unhealthy – and more than that, unnecessary.

A new study by the Metals Economics Group (MEG) outlines that when it comes to potential new precious and base metals mining discoveries, the Americas have dominated the rest of the world in the last three years. This means that initial drill results show a “significant deposit” that “has obvious commercial value.” In light of (…) more

In Rare Earth Woes Could Mean Trouble for U.S. Stealth Fleet, Christine Parthemore takes a look behind the headlines at the materials that give the U.S. Military its high-tech edge: “Ever since Osama bin Laden’s demise, aviation sleuths have been trying to figure out what was the mystery copter that Delivered Seal Team Six.  I’ve (…) more

The New American recently provided an in-depth look at Chinese investments into the world’s minerals and metals supply. I’ve included an excerpt below, but I recommend you click here to read the full article. While the piece was certainly compelling, I want to point out a few key facts that were not included. The author, (…) more

In yet another indication that a global race for resources is in full swing, this opinion piece carried by the Russian news agency Ria Novosti suggests that Russia, a generally resource-rich country, should rethink its long-held position that prospecting for minerals outside its own territory is not necessary.  According to the author, Africa, another area (…) more

Recent decisions by China, the world’s leading rare earths producer, to tighten export restrictions and raise taxes have set off a flurry of global activity as nations are looking for ways to respond to these new realities. In the United States, policy initiatives aimed at securing an ongoing supply of these mineral materials are being (…) more

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 9) – The American Resources Policy Network (ARPN) today announced its formation as a panel of mining policy experts and thought leaders dedicated to promoting the exploration and development of U.S. domestic metal and mineral resources…[Read more] more

It is easy to pity the U.S. policymaker, who has more than a few crises to cope with, but America can no longer afford to push aside the critical issue of metals and minerals.  Decisions made now — or inaction, which is a decision in itself — will shape our economic competitiveness and national security (…) more

Canada’s Globe and Mail leads with a quote well-known in rare metals circles:  “The Middle East has oil…and China has rare earths.” Following Xiaoping Deng’s 1992 dictum, China developed its rare earths production to the point where, today, it provides 97 percent of the world’s supply. But don’t blame China for capitalizing on its market (…) more