Like some of the other critical metals and minerals we have covered on our blog – Antimony and Cobalt come to mind – Tungsten lacks the “sex appeal that made investors fall for the rare earth story.”  Says Seddon:

“One of the big differences between tungsten and REEs is their applications. Tungsten is a very industrial metal. It’s mainly used as a carbide or “hard metal” in drilling and cutting tools used in heavy industry. Tungsten is not sexy in that sense. It’s a very solid industrial market. This contrasts with REEs, which are used in a lot of newer, high-tech applications that are much easier for the investment community to make into an exciting story.”

While Tungsten may be used in industrial applications that don’t get people as excited as, say, green technologies, there are no viable substitutes at this point.

Meanwhile, there is a strong geopolitical aspect factoring into the Tungsten narrative:  As is the case with Rare Earths, most of the world’s Tungsten comes from China, which accounts for roughly 80 percent of global Tungsten output, a fact that invites similar challenges as the ones manufacturers relying on REES have seen in the past.

Further complicating the supply picture for domestic manufacturers is the fact that Tungsten from the Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding regions, another main source of supply, has been labeled a conflict mineral and subjected to a series of (confusing) reporting requirements under the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law and respective rules handed down by the SEC in 2012.

A partial solution to at least some of the challenges may lie in the domestic development of our Tungsten supplies, which would allow for reducing our overreliance on foreign minerals and allow for “conflict-free” sourcing.  In any case, however, the Tungsten narrative once more shows that critical resource policy cannot occur in a vacuum, as the strategic implications of our supply issues stretch far beyond the now often-discussed Rare Earths story.

The post Why Tungsten should be on your critical minerals watch list appeared first on American Resources Policy Network.

The Juneau Empire’s Russell Stigall has summarized their conversation in an article highlighting McGroarty’s emphasis on Alaska being the “single most important state when measured across the full range of hard rock metals,” and the state’s vast mineral potential. McGroarty also explained what constitutes a critical and strategic mineral – a definitional void that has proven problematic in the case of the U.S. government, where a cacophony of definitional approaches has gotten in the way of policy makers formulating a critical and strategic mineral strategy:

“A strategic mineral is used in advanced weapon system that does not have a second best metal to do the job — such as certain metals used in the making of smart bombs, McGroarty said.

Minerals are considered critical if there is a near-term, present or projected shortfall in the metal, McGroarty said. This can come from the geographic location of the mineral deposit or the fluctuations of the economy, he said. But minerals can become critical also if the U.S. is not comfortable sourcing, say, gold, tin or tungsten in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“If we shut those off successfully from our U.S. manufactures and users we may have created a critical metal out of tungsten,” McGroarty said.”

Unlike many in U.S. government, Alaska’s Parnell Administration understands the stakes, and has taken the lead in formulating a critical minerals strategy at the state level. Hopefully, last week’s conference has served to raise awareness of our critical mineral needs and domestic resource potential nationally – our strategic, national security and economic future depends on it.

The post American Resources principal discusses critical and strategic minerals with Juneau Empire appeared first on American Resources Policy Network.

Since that first winter, the bounty of Thanksgiving has become a symbol of the abundant resources the New World provided.  From the raw materials that built our modern cities to the energy that has powered innovation in all its variety, these resources have enriched the lives of millions of people in America and around the world – making possible a way of life those who gathered around that first Thanksgiving table could never have imagined.

Even today, of course, we know that too many are still doing without the basic necessities of life.  And yet the resources around us – those literally under our feet – remain plentiful.  All too often complacency and ideology lock us into inaction, blocking us from making use of the still-rich resources of this new world. Minerals, metals, fuel and timber that could create jobs, opportunities, and rewards for the American people are left untouched.

Our forefathers understood privation and want.  They understood that nature sometimes rewards tireless work with a poor harvest.  But they also understood nature’s bounty.  What they would find beyond comprehending in our day is the willful failure to use resources we have at hand to ease hardship and make a better life for ourselves and for others.

On this Thanksgiving, as we give thanks for our many blessings, may we also remember the lessons dating back to Plymouth Rock, that teach us to use our resources and resourcefulness to make an even newer and better world.

The post The Blessings of a New World appeared first on American Resources Policy Network.

In light of its traditional uses, its importance for the new Li-ion technology, and the ostensibly endless potential applications for the “new super material graphene,” the international graphite market has seen a boom in recent years. However, with China not only dominating global graphite supply but also holding all of the spherical graphite processing technology, supply issues loom large.

The event, which will take place on Dec. 5 and 6 in London, reflects the growing relevance of graphite, and will address questions “surrounding whether or not graphite can fulfill its predicted potential as one of the most lucrative and highly used minerals of the next decade.”

Click here for more information on the 2nd Graphite Conference 2012.

The post American Resources experts to speak at international graphite conference appeared first on American Resources Policy Network.

“I hope the presidential candidates will address America’s need for resource independence. According to American Resources Policy Network, a non-partisan research organization, 50 percent of 43 critical minerals came from foreign countries. We should not be relying on China for minerals critical to our defense, manufacturing, and energy technologies.

“American mineral exploration and production has slowed to a near standstill over the last two decades, while foreign mineral exploration has exploded. Many actions have contributed to the current state of our mineral dependence. Decade-long delays in issuing permits, frivolous lawsuits filed simply to delay projects, and the absence of a national mineral policy.

“That’s why I have introduced The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2011, H.R. 2011. This legislation will promote domestic production of minerals vital to our defense technologies, economy, and clean energy development – all of which will help make America safer, more prosperous, and one day truly resource independent.” – Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)

The post Congressman reiterates the importance of critical minerals appeared first on American Resources Policy Network.

As one of the country’s leading authorities on energy and environmental issues, Burnett provides his insights, commentary and analysis on national television and radio networks as well as a wide range of print media.

Burnett has written extensively on government environmental policy, offshore drilling, global warming, endangered species, and public lands.

To learn more about his work, and our other panelists, visit our experts page.

The post American Resources expert panel continues to grow appeared first on American Resources Policy Network.

The latest company to pull out of the country is Cameco Corp, a major Uranium producer, announcing the end to a joint-venture exploration project with its partner Calypso Uranium Corp after two years.   Only a week prior Pan American Silver, a Vancouver-based company, said it would “stagger investments in Argentina until the investment climate cleared.”

Miners are growing increasingly concerned over President Cristina Fernandez’s policies, which have so far included the expropriation of a partially state-owned energy company, the forced repatriation of mining export revenue on local markets, and a mandate that companies source equipment domestically.

While certain government policies – such as the removal of red tape leading to permitting delays – are not only welcome but critical in creating a framework conducive to the responsible and effective maximization of a country’s resource potential, the Argentinian government’s approach is a page from the “What not to do” book, and could, according to experts, “push the Argentina onto a list of unfriendly jurisdictions for mining like Venezuela and Bolivia, and drive investors away when the country is most in need of investment.”

The post Miners pull out of Argentina over populist measures appeared first on American Resources Policy Network.

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, nickel and manganese, has led to seven major partnership agreements between Chinese and African stakeholders in the second half of 2011 alone.

Meanwhile, China is also a key supplier nation for many critical metals and minerals, and has a near-total monopoly on strategic minerals like Rare Earths so much so that it is in a position – and has done so on several occasions in the past – to use its restrictive mineral export policies as a geopolitical weapon.

Needless to say, China’s role is being examined in the forthcoming American Resources Policy Network report entitled “Reviewing Risk: Critical Metals & National Security.” As the proverbial “Elephant in the Room,” China will also be a topic of discussion at the Strategic Minerals Conference 2012, taking place on June 6, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

For more information including related video from some of the conference participants, and an updated agenda as the event date draws closer visit www.strategicmineralsconference.com.

The post China’s African resource footprint continues to grow appeared first on American Resources Policy Network.

The post American Resources Policy Network to Host Strategic Minerals Conference appeared first on American Resources Policy Network.

Prior to forming J.A. Green & Company, Green served as Staff Director to the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, and as Counsel to the full committee’s policy staff, handling all matters related to acquisition policy, industrial base issues, defense trade, and a $156 billion operation & maintenance budget.

He has written numerous articles related to the defense industry, government procurement and strategic materials. In addition to various TV appearances, he has been quoted in an array of major national news publications.

Having founded and serving on the Strategic Materials Advisory Council in 2012, he also serves as a member of the U.S. Magnetic Materials Association and the REE World Advisory Board.

To learn more about Green’s work, and our other panelists, visit our experts page.

The post Founder of Strategic Materials Advisory Council Jeffery A. Green joins American Resources Expert Panel appeared first on American Resources Policy Network.