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In a new piece on her website, MetalMiner co-founder and American Resources expert Lisa Reisman asks if Manganese is the “Twin Brother or Ugly Stepchild of the Rare Earth Metal Family.”

Indeed, there are a number of similarities between both metal markets, which Reisman lists as follows:

· Both share significant supply constraints, forcing sourcing managers to devise supply- and commodity risk management strategies.
· Both come primarily from China.
· Both have seen price drops as a result of restrictive public policies.

CEO of junior miner American Manganese Larry Reaugh’s conclusion (based on a study conducted by the CPM Group) that China may well become a net importer of Manganese by 2018 as shutdowns for smaller plants along with other factors will drive cost up, also sounds familiar to those keeping a close eye on the Rare Earths.

American Manganese will likely begin operations at its project site in Arizona, for which it has filed a preliminary feasibility report, by 2015, thus helping to reduce the United States’ near-total reliance for Manganese from China. However, whether twin brother or ugly stepchild – the U.S. should take steps to this end on the policy level, as well. Reisman lists several elements that would go far in meeting this challenge for all critical metals and minerals:

“Enactment of US legislation and coordination among government agencies elevating the status of the 43 minerals listed in a recent ARPN report, requiring the development of complete supply chain risk management strategies for each and every mineral;

• Streamlining the US mining permitting process, currently the longest in the world;
• The establishment of public-private partnerships in which industry works with the DOD and other national security agencies to devise strategies and tactics to secure supply of key materials, and
• Strict enforcement of rules-based trade, among several others.”

Some in Congress have received the message – but whether this will result in actual policy changes remains to be seen.

Now that we’re done celebrating the 236th anniversary of our independence from England, it may be time to turn to present matters of dependency.

Over the past few months, we at American Resources have been highlighting the breadth of our mineral needs and potential by featuring metals and minerals for which the United States is largely import-dependent. Through our Metal of the Month series we have been showcasing the utilities of — as well as the challenges associated with — these critical materials.

Molybdenum differs from some of the other metals and minerals we have highlighted in that it is a material for which the United States, according to USGS data, is a net exporter – for now.

“Moly,” as industry wonks fondly call the material, is used primarily in the automotive, shipbuilding, construction, mining, and chemical industries as well as the energy sector to harden and strengthens steels and cast irons. Among others, its heat resistant properties also make it an important component in defense and aerospace applications, earning it a spot on the American Resources Risk Pyramid in our new report on Critical Minerals & National Security.

Recent industry reports show increasing demand for Molybdenum as usage of Molybdenum-bearing stainless and alloy steels has been on the rise in 2010 and 2011. The surge has been fueled largely by increasing need for such steels and other alloys in emerging economies like China, India, and Brazil.

While long-term market price predictions are uncertain, analysts see demand increasing for the next few years, making certain that Molybdenum will be a metal to keep a close eye on going forward.

Stay tuned for more Molybdenum-related updates on our blog, as well as on Twitter and Facebook throughout the month.

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced stepped-up research efforts into critical metals and minerals. Planning to spend up to $120 million, the department aims to create an “Energy Innovation Hub” with the goal to advance green energy technologies relying on critical mineral resources including (but not limited to) rare earths. Says Secretary of Energy [...]

Using the government studies cited in American Resources’ Critical Metals Report, we attempt to reconcile conflicting mineral lists and department definitions. We believe the American Resources “Risk Pyramid” provides a reasonable window into the federal government’s approach to the United States’ mineral supply issues. Until the U.S. Government issues a single and definitive study of [...]

What is U.S. policy on a ready supply of critical and strategic minerals? The U.S. government’s failure to speak with one voice on this key issue has led to inconsistent information concerning America’s mineral needs and a splintered policy to ensure adequate access. Conflicting federal studies make it difficult for lawmakers to pinpoint metal shortages, [...]

China’s aggressive pursuit of mineral resources around the globe continues with Africa being a “key destination for meeting China’s resource acquisitiveness,” according to a presentation given at the Coaltrans Southern Africa conference earlier this month. As outlined in an article on MiningWeekly.com, China’s quest for resources in Africa, which centers on oil, gold, platinum, copper, [...]

Having honored those who have served our country on Memorial Day yesterday, this week may be an appropriate time to note that our military servicemen and –women could not fulfill their mission to protect the homeland and project American power around the globe as effectively as they do if it wasn’t for a broad range [...]

Sounding the alarm on the possible impact of hypothetical mining — in spite of the fact that no permit application or specific plans have been submitted — the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a cursory review of the Bristol Bay Watershed in Alaska. The EPA’s unprecedented early action is part of the agency’s effort [...]

If you haven’t lived under a rock lately (pun intended), you are probably aware of the fact that there is growing concern regarding the supply of mineral resources. While American Resources has consistently argued that the U.S. has subjected itself to a troubling degree of non-fuel mineral import dependency, which is often greater than our [...]

Underscoring the timeliness of the American Resources-sponsored Strategic Minerals Conference 2012, Sterling Burnett, a senior fellow with the National Center for Policy Analysis, has a piece on The Hill’s Congress Blog outlining how current domestic mining policies threaten our national security and economy. A few of Burnett’s key points: · The latest WTO case filed [...]