According to Malaysia on the 28th, Australia Linus announced on the 27th, and has successfully produced the first batch of rare earth finished its rare earth plant in Kuantan, Pahang.

It is learned that the Lynas in November last year, the Malaysian Government's temporary operating permits, the protests of local environmentalists and residents, the rare earth ore shipped from Australia in November last year, arrived in Kuantan.

Lynas in Kuantan construction of the world's largest rare earth refinery covers an area of about 20 hectares, invested 800 million U.S. dollars to build, will produce 22,000 tons of rare earth, able to meet about 1/3 of the world demand, world rare earth trade market structure have a significant impact. China's current world consumption of rare earth exports accounted for 95%.

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The crown of some foreign media that the two sessions held for decades the most important meeting of 2013, the market for the General Assembly to tell the metal market and what impact a variety guess.

First, we briefly recall the history. Opening two sessions in 2012 when the price of copper is at a high level during the meeting only in the range of smaller shocks, but nearly a month later at the end of the meeting Powei down. Rebar prices are also soon in two sessions after started a more substantial decline. 2012 NPC and CPPCC Shanghai Futures Exchange copper prices fell 1.7% Total. During the two sessions held in 2011, the Shanghai Futures Exchange copper futures prices cumulative decline of more than 7%. Only from the results of these two statistical point of view, the two sessions did not seem to be able to the metal to promote the real meaning of good the final market performance was significantly weaker.

For this year's two sessions will be talking about economic policy, the focus of the market is mainly concentrated in the industrial development and monetary policy. Will during the meeting will discuss environmental policies, energy policies, as well as new economic development objectives and the expected level of inflation is generally expected.

Environmental policy and industrial policy in terms of energy, steel and non-ferrous metals industries are high-polluting industries in the traditional sense. Two sessions held in the fog and haze of a large area of ​​North China before the end of the case, one can imagine that will bring the future development of high-polluting enterprises variables. Capacity in general is also a low-cost production capacity due to high pollution, environmental pollution control of the metal industry is very likely to accelerate the rising cost of steel and non-ferrous metal production. But we need to pay attention to the message itself may produce some short-term impact on the market price, but the rise in the cost of production will eventually transfer to the market price will be a very long process.

Compared to the industrial policy, the most direct and guide the metal prices or economic growth targets and the expected level of inflation, as well as financial and monetary policy. The leading bodies of the two sessions will produce the new session of the national institutions, investors for the new policy also prone to more conjecture.

Current message, the vast majority of the predictions are that this year's economic growth target will be around 7.5%, unchanged from 2012. Despite the U.S. economic recovery is becoming more and more determined, the traditional China's largest export objects in Europe is still living in the quagmire, in the case of export is not effectively recover, even if it is to increase the scale of investment in fixed assets, to achieve 7.5% economic growth target is still not easy, so we believe that ultimately the economic growth target will not significantly deviate from this level. The fixed assets investment scale further expansion should undoubtedly meetings, but to expand the magnitude determine the scale of demand for the metal. As the financial pressure faced by the local government, the new government has not yet completed that seek the possibility of substantial expansion of investment in fixed assets is very small in the case of local government financing platform rectification. The final GDP growth target is recognized as about 7.5%, so obviously not achieve a decisive boost to all kinds of metal right now ubiquitous high inventory.

From a monetary policy point of view towards further clarified in the level of inflation, the central bank apparently will not easily change the current cautious attitude. Although the mainstream view is that the earlier Central Economic Work Conference signals given this year's economic development goals "steady partial loose" monetary policy, but in the years since, the central bank accumulated from the open market to return the funds nearly trillion yuan, funds face steadily tightening trend reversed sharply in the short term the possibility is very small, not enough to make the metal market currency environment is a fundamental change.

We believe that the metal market during the two sessions due to the probability of strong policy reasons, investors should not have too high expectations of the "two sessions Quotes. The government policy also is limited by a number of objective conditions, blindly expect massive investment-led economic growth, driven by the rise in commodity prices is likely to be disappointed.

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Research in Japan, said earlier in South Bird Island in the Pacific waters of undersea discovery of a large number of rare earth ore concentration is very high, some element concentration is 30 times higher than China's rare earth mine in southern. Japanese experts also said that these rare earth mine as a high possibility that a large number of mining resources.

Last year, the research team of the University of Tokyo in Japan South Bird Island exclusive economic zone mud found a large number of rare earth ore, last month, the research team once again went to the scene to investigate. The survey found that the rare earth concentrations as high as 5000 meters above sea bottom mud 6000PPM. Dysprosium elements integral concentration which produced environmentally friendly cars 20 rare earth mine in southern China for IT equipment of terbium elements and for LED lighting equipment europium element concentrations are 16 rare earth mine in southern China and 35 times.

Kato Thai ho, professor at the University of Tokyo, said the high concentration of rare earth ore mining high possibility as a resource in the top of the undersea. World and not in the 5000 meters in the ultra-deep sea resource exploitation precedent, METI will future mining technology research.
 

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The monthly Rare Earths MMI® continued its nosedive, dropping three points to register a value of 43 in February, a decrease of 6.5 percent.

What makes this month’s reading interesting, though, has little to do with the headline number and more to do with which metals within the complex led the rout –in particular, yttria, terbium oxide, rare earth carbonate, praseodymium oxide, neodymium oxide, europium oxide and dysprosium oxide.

The other half of the metals within the index actually posted price gains, including neodymium, praseodymium neodymium, and lanthanum oxide, among others. However, neodymium has now also dropped in price, since the monthly MMI reading on Feb. 1.

Rare earth analysts have reported that Chinese rare earth export numbers remain problematic, in that different Chinese sources have published different numbers.

Regardless of which numbers one looks at, rare earth prices have dropped because more supply has and will continue to come on-stream, including from Lynas, who as of this writing may have just cleared its last legal hurdle and will commence operations in Malaysia this month.

Until/unless China itself creates more of its own demand for rare earth metals, Chinese rare earth producers’ net profits will continue to slide. And prices may continue to do the same.

Primary Price Drivers of the Rare Earths Index

Dysprosium oxide prices plummeted 15.1 percent for the month. Terbium oxide prices fell nearly as hard, plunging 12 percent.

The price of neodymium oxide fell 9.4 percent. The europium oxide price was down 2.2 percent for the month.

Meanwhile, the price of yttrium increased a slight 0.3 percent. Prices for lanthanum oxide followed suit, rising 0.3 percent, as did neodymium, terbium metal and cerium oxide.
 

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PROFESSOR of Supra-molecular Chemistry and Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences at the University of the West Indies Dr Ishenkumba Kahwa says Jamaica's venture into the extraction of rare earth metals from red mud presents exciting prospects for high-end jobs.

"The beautiful thing about the project is that it has the potential to generate high calibre jobs; there is extraction, making of products, separation of the rare earth elements. There are about 17 of them; the kind of skill we are going to need is quite interesting; so it will attract high-value jobs, so we are very excited about it," Professor Kahwa told the Jamaica Observer following Monday's ground-breaking ceremony for the US$3-million pilot plant to be constructed on the premises of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) at Hope Gardens in St Andrew.

Professor Kahwa also expressed confidence that Jamaica had the expertise to staff the project, which will be shared jointly with personnel from Japanese company Nippon Light Metals who are funding the effort.

"We do have capacity, [as] in my own research group we have trained about 13 PhD graduates, and a good number of those are on rare earth chemistry; so we have people to manage the chemistry. We have students who are in the system. Now, once they know jobs will open up they will be sufficiently excited, so the capacity is here," he told the Observer.

"What we are seeing today is an excellent opportunity for us to be able not only to exploit our own resource, but we have the expertise that can be directed towards preparation and development of materials that are of high value," he added.

In the meantime, Professor Kahwa, who has been on the cutting edge of research in the area, said the project's potential impact on the environment was negligible.

"There are environmental concerns, but they are not concerns that we cannot manage, I am not worried in the least about that," he said.

In the meantime, he said the University of the West Indies, and Jamaica by extension, was no stranger to the subject area. "Our work at the University of the West Indies has spanned quite a period of time. I came here 1987 and the university was already involved in the research on rare earths, looking at basically the composition and the potential and so forth. There were other players as well, ALCAN (aluminium producer) was doing a lot of work. In fact, they have a patent for the extraction of rare earth from red mud," Professor Kahwa said.

He, however, noted that Jamaica's extraction work in the early 90s was short-lived because of China's trade which had the lion share of the industry.

"The Chinese have deposits in this stuff, they really flooded the market and the prices of rare earth went down substantially; so we shifted gears from extracting the metals to value-added products. So we have been making materials that can be used in biomedicine for diagnostic purposes, as catalysts, as laser material things like that," Professor Kahwa said.

With China's present state, however, Jamaica's window of opportunity might be bigger, he pointed out.

"They (China) have environmental issues and therefore they have restricted their imports, and hence the price of rare earth has gone back up again. Not only that, but if you need large quantities you might have a challenge sourcing those. So areas that were not particularly attractive, such as rare earths in red mud, are now attractive as a source of those elements. The price of it now is sufficiently good to actually warrant efforts to try and extract it," Professor Kahwa told the Observer.

Meanwhile, he said Jamaica would still have to work on creating niche markets. "... We have to optimise that process, because the Chinese are still there with their very cheap source, there are other countries like Australia, Africa and America that have some, so the question is how we actually put things in a way that actually is economical and makes money for us," Professor Kahwa said.
 

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CHAIRMAN and Executive Director of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute Dr Parris A Lyew-Ayee has assured that "unlike in many other countries where rare earth minerals are mined with severe negative impacts on the environment ... the Jamaican scenario is completely different".

Speaking during Monday's groundbreaking project for the US$3-million pilot plant at the institute's Hope Gardens home in St Andrew, the chairman said the process of extraction would be compatible with the environment.

 "Very importantly, we are also stewards of the environment. Our red mud deposits are located in well-engineered and managed containment ponds. Dried mud will then be harvested from these ponds for processing here at our pilot plant so there will be no mining operations and related pressures on the environment. The dried mud will then be neutralised before extraction of the rare elements," he explained.

The JBI executive director said the "neutralised non-toxic tailings will then be returned to a properly sealed containment pond, which is planned to be used to recover other minerals such as iron and titanium".

"We know it can be done," he added, noting that the launch was "a most auspicious day in the history of Jamaica and marks a new beginning".

Noting that Jamaica had ventured into the area several times before, but pulled back because of financial constraints, Lywe-Ayee said he strongly believed that "meaningful incentives should be granted to serious investors who would like to partner with us in these research and development exercises".

Scientists here have been able to extract the rare earth oxide from red mud in laboratories, but it's now time to take the next step, accoring to the JBI head.

"...Over the past year we have sampled, analysed and characterised the red mud in various locations and we are very satisfied with the results... Now we need to move on to the next step on a plant scale to ensure the commercial viability of this process. I do not need to emphasise the vast market that exists for the rare earth as it is still growing and growing exponentially," he said, counteracting arguments that Jamaica would be hardpressed to find a viable market since China currently controls some 97 per cent of the trade.

As far as the JBI head is concerned "the elusive bridge which we now must cross is how to efficiently and commercially extract the rare earth from the red mud here in Jamaica".

"We insist on that and our partners agree for it to be processed here as far downstream as we can to be able to have better benefits. We earnestly hope that the path to full commercial production will be cleared by this venture," he added.

Government announced plans to establish the pilot two weeks ago. It is being undertaken in partnership with researchers from Japanese firm Nippon Light Metal Company Limited, a publicly traded aluminium supplier headquartered in Tokyo with annual revenues of over US$7 billion and over 10,000 employees.

Nippon has confirmed high concentrations of rare earth elements in Jamaica's red mud, particularly in comparison to other areas. Mitsuru Ishihara, director and senior executive officer of the company, who arrived in the island with a delegation on Sunday, expressed certainty that there would be safety in the construction of the building which is expected to be completed in three months.

The two-storey building will be staffed jointly by personnel from the JBI and Nippon Light Metals.

"I do believe the project will (redound) to the benefit of both parties. Nippon Metal will now start to construct the pilot plant in cooperation with Jamaican builders," he said.

In the meantime, Yasuo Takase, Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica said the project is an indication that Japan is committed to partnerships between the two countries.

"Our sincere hope is that the pilot project will bear fruit to other explorations of economic opportunity for both Japan and Jamaica," he added.

The pilot plant project will develop methodology for neutralising the red mud with the objective of extracting some of the rare earth elements. It involves physical works at the JBI, the construction of adjunct laboratory areas, a stockpiling area for the red mud and acid, and a temporary waste storage site.

The pilot plant study will seek to specifically map the potential impact on land, water and air and the effect of neutralising the by-products of the extraction process. Rare earth elements or lanthanides, are extremely valuable elements which require advanced technology for their extraction so as to realise their commercial value. They currently trade at rates of up to US $3,500 per kilogramme.

Nippon Light Metal's ultimate objective is to extract some 1,500 metric tons per annum.

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Focus Graphite Inc. ("Focus" or the "Corporation") and partner SOQUEM Inc. ("SOQUEM") are pleased to provide an update of their 2012 exploration program at the Kwyjibo polymetallic Iron-Rare Earth Elements-Copper-(Gold) (Fe-REE-Cu-(Au)) Property ("Kwyjibo" or the "Property"), located in the Côte-Nord administrative district of Québec. The 2012 exploration program at Kwyjibo comprised of surface showing and trench re-sampling, core drilling and ground geophysical surveying.

Highlights of the Josette showing and trench re-sampling program include:

    Josette showing: 2.95% TREO, 37.35% REOc* and 1.44 % Cu over 10 m, including a high-grade sub-zone of: 4.59% TREO, 35.58 % REOc*, and 2.62 % Cu over 2m.
    Trench TR-95-30: 4.13% TREO, 36.08% REOc* and 0.23 % Cu over 2 m.
    Trench TR-95-29: 3.58% TREO, 39.90% REOc*and 0.17% Cu over 1.5 m.

*The ratio of critical rare earth elements ("REOc") is defined by The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") as the sum of Nd+Eu+Tb+Dy+Y oxides divided by total rare earth oxides (TREO) : REOc = ((Nd2O3+Eu2O3+Tb2O3+Dy2O3+Y2O3)/TREO)*100. The REOc ratio is the expression of the importance of those REEs sought by the industry without considering the technological challenge to recover the REE and all the costs related to a mine development.

The new 2012 analytical results highlight the increasing total rare earth content of the mineralization related to the assaying of heavy rare earth elements in comparison to the 1995 analytical results. In 1995, only La, Ce and Sm were analyzed out of the suite of 17 rare earth elements at the Josette showing and in trenches TR-95-30 and TR-95-29.

In 2012, 10 new channel samples were collected at the Josette showing, two new channel samples were collected from trench TR-95-30 and one chip sample was taken from trench TR-95-29. The 13 samples were analyzed for the complete range of rare earth elements (Table 1). The 2012 results confirm the high heavy rare-earth elements ("HREE") content of the mineralization at Kwyjibo as well as the high ratio of critical rare earth elements (REOc) which ranges from 32.34% to 41.14%.

The results of the rare earth elements assay program are expressed as total rare earth oxides (TREO), including yttrium oxide and ratio of critical rare earth elements (REOc*). Values of TREO (REE2O3) presented are the sum of all rare earth oxides of the lanthanide series and yttrium oxide; strictly not a rare earth element, yttrium is included in the total amount of REE because of the chemical behaviour and uses that are similar to the lanthanides.

The Josette showing was re-sampled in a composite of ten (10) one-meter long channels, cut parallel to the 1995 channels. For trench TR-95-30, a new two-meter long channel was cut parallel to the trench blasted in 1995 while for trench TR-95-29, chips samples were taken over 1.5 meters intervals. The total length of the 2012 sampling channels in both trenches (TR-95-29 & TR-95-30) is less than in 1995 by 5.4 m due to destruction of portions of the original outcrops caused by the blasting done in 1995, and also because of the subsequent infilling of the trenches by blocks of rocks and dirt and the strong weathering of the outcrop in trench TR-95-29.

Quality assurance / Quality control

The channels were cut with a rock saw perpendicular to the main foliation of the iron-rich rock (magnetitite). All the channels are one meter long by 2.5 cm wide and vary in depth from 10 to 15 cm. For each channel, the rock samples were broken into pieces and then placed into a plastic bag. In the case of Trench TR-95-29, chips samples of 5 to 10 cm long, by 5 to 10 cm wide and 1 to 5 cm thick were collected from the weathered outcrop over 1.5 m intervals and then placed into a plastic bag. A numbered tag from the ALS laboratory was inserted into the bag prior to the sealing of the bag with a tie-wrap. The sample bags were carried to the camp by helicopter then loaded onto a float plane to Sept-Îles and sent by a carrier to ALS Laboratories ("ALS") in Val-d'Or (a certified laboratory; ISO 9001:2008 and ISO/IEC 17025:2005 for standards).

The samples were analyzed for all rare earth elements, most traces and major elements. Due to the limited number of channel samples analyzed, no standard or blank were introduced except the one used by the laboratory. Rare earths and trace elements were analyzed using lithium borate fusion of the sample prior to acid dissolution and analyzed by ICP-MS (Induced-Couples Plasma Mass Spectrometry). This method is best suitable for minerals resistant to acid digestion, like some REE-bearing silicates. For REE high grades samples, a re-analysis of the pulp was performed using high sample to volume ratios in addition to Class A volumetric glassware. ALS laboratory used certified high grade rare earth reference materials as part of their standard protocol. Major elements were analyzed using a lithium borate fusion of the sample prior to acid dissolution and analyzed by ICP-AES (Induced-Couples Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry). REE, traces and major elements were analyzed at ALS laboratories in Vancouver. For sulphide-bearing samples, copper, lead, silver, zinc and sulphur were digested in aqua regia, then analyzed by AAS technique (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry). Gold was analyzed by fire assay and AAS with a 50g nominal sample weight. Base metals and precious metals were analyzed at ALS in Val-d'Or.

2012 core drilling program

Thirty-one (31) holes (4,207 m) were drilled at Kwyjibo in 2012 with the aim of validating grades, thicknesses and continuity of the REE-Fe-Cu mineralization in the northeastern portion of the Josette horizon, where the best drilling intersections were obtained in 2011 from hole 10885-11-57 with 2.40% TREO over 48.8m and hole 10885-11-60 with 3.61% TREO over 33.1m (see Focus Metals press release dated March 13th 2012).

A map of the Kwyjibo property showing the location of the 31 drill holes is available on the Company's website at www.focusgraphite.com.

A total of 1,333 samples (1,249 half NQ drill core samples; 23 duplicates; 29 standard samples and 32 blank samples) were sent to ALS in Val-d'Or and Vancouver, for total rare earth elements, base metals, major elements and trace element analysis. The results from the 2012 core drilling program are pending.

Surface and borehole TDEM geophysical surveys

A ground time-domain electromagnetic ("TDEM") geophysical survey and a borehole Pulse-EM survey were completed by Abitibi Geophysic Inc. from Val-d'Or (Québec) in early October. A total of 75 km of lines were surveyed on five different loops that covered all significant VTEM anomalies from the 2006 survey and all known occurrences of the iron formation on the Kwyjibo Property.

Thirty (30) drill holes (5.492 m), were surveyed with borehole Pulse-EM on three loops. Eight (8) holes from the 1994 to 2011 core drilling programs were also surveyed for a total of 1,219 m for the most northeastern Grabuge - Gabriel showings loop. A total of 2,089 m from 11 drill holes (1994 to 2012) were surveyed on loop that straddled the Fluorine and Josette showings grids. Finally, 2,184 m from 11 holes (1995 to 2012) were surveyed in the loop that covers most of the Josette horizon and the Josette grid.

The new ground and borehole geophysical data are currently being processed and interpreted by MB Geosolution of Québec City. High-priority geophysical targets from the 2012 surveys will be followed-up though drilling in 2013.

Metallurgical tests and mineralogical study

A first round of metallurgical tests is planned at Kwyjibo this year. The testing will be performed on two representative samples of the mineralized iron formation (magnetitite) and the mineralized breccia in the aim to produce concentrates for critical rare earths, copper and iron. The first sample will be comprised of 80kg composite of mineralised rock from Josette showing. The second sample will consist of a 230kg composite from quarter-drill core samples from seven holes drilled below trenches TR-95-29 and TR-95-30. The contract to carry out the metallurgical testing has been awarded to COREM of Québec-City. In conjunction with the metallurgical testing, a mineralogical study will be undertaken in order to characterize the distribution of the REEs in the different REE-bearing minerals. Results from both studies are expected in the third quarter of 2013.

Property Location

The Kwyjibo polymetallic Iron-Rare Earth Elements-Copper-(Gold) (Fe-REE-Cu-(Au)) property, totalling 118 mining titles and covering 6,278 ha, is located 125 km northeast of Sept-Îles, in the Côte-Nord administrative district of Québec. The property is also located 25 km east of the Québec North Shore and Labrador railway line and is accessible by air from Sept-Îles.
 

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Ucore Rare Metals Inc. ("Ucore" or "the Company") is pleased to report that United States Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mark Begich (D-AK) jointly introduced a bill in Washington DC to authorize construction of a road on Prince of Wales Island to the Niblack and Bokan Mountain projects. Senator Murkowski noted that this bill would permit development of a road that minimizes costs, while also minimizing the effects on surface resources, preventing unnecessary surface disturbances and complying with all environmental laws and regulations.

Further, Ucore notes the introduction of Senate Joint Resolution No. 8 in the Legislature of the State of Alaska by Senators McGuire, Gardner and Ellis (the "Resolution"). The Resolution supports the continued and increased exploration, extraction, processing and production of rare earth elements in the State.

The Resolution supports a number of initiatives, and expressly urges State agencies that administer permits required for the development of rare earth element projects in Alaska to expedite the consideration and issuance of permits for the development of rare earth element deposits. The initiative further urges the Governor and the Department of Natural Resources to work closely with the US Geological Survey, US Department of Commerce and US Department of Defense to promote the development of rare earth elements extraction, processing and production in the State. The Resolution also urges the U.S. Congress to support the efforts of the State to develop rare earth elements for the benefit of the economic and national security of the United States.

"We're highly encouraged by these two initiatives to expedite the development of the Bokan project", stated Jim McKenzie, President & CEO of Ucore. "Alaska legislators have been exceptionally supportive of our development, which promises to bring skilled employment and numerous ancillary economic benefits to an area with tremendous potential. The bills additionally acknowledge and complement Ucore's commitment to complying with existing laws, fostering economic development in the region, and advancing production of materials designated as critical to national security by the U.S. Congress."

The Senate Bill and Resolution were independently introduced on January 30, 2013, both explicitly recognizing the heavy rare earth element content and logistical advantages of Ucore's Bokan Mountain property.

 

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Northern Minerals has demonstrated its Browns Range heavy rare earth element (HREE) project in northern Western Australia is capable of producing a high value 92% mixed rare earth oxide.

The test work to date has confirmed the ability to produce a high grade mineral concentrate from the Browns Range xenotime mineralisation, which can then be relatively simply refined into a high purity mixed rare earth oxide dominated by yittrium (61%) and dysprosium (11%).

Significantly, this increases the market potential and value for the Browns Range product, as mixed rare earth oxide is more amenable to the production processes of potential offtake partners.

The positive hydrometallurgical results have now further de-risked the project and opened the door to a significantly larger and higher value market for the Browns heavy rare earth product.

First production of mixed rare earth oxide is targeted for 2016 with a $58 million funding package in place supporting the pathway to production.

Hydrometallurgical flowsheet

The hydrometallurgical flowsheet includes conventional unit processes of sulphation bake, water leaching, impurity removal, oxalate precipitation and calcination to produce the high purity mixed rare earth oxide.

Following the results from earlier testing, Northern Minerals engaged Tenova Mining and Minerals to develop and manage a detailed hydrometallurgical test work program.

The first stage of this program has now been completed with the confirmation test work undertaken at both ALS and Nagrom laboratories in Perth.

The key results from the program are:

- Extraction efficiency in the acid bake and water leach step exceeded 85%;
- The precipitation efficiency of the oxalate precipitation step exceeded 99%;
- The product purity of the final calcined exceeded the target of 92% TREO in the mixed rare earth oxide; and
- Heavy rare earths dominate the mixed rare earth oxide.

Scoping Study

Northern Minerals also recently commissioned a Scoping Study for a hydrometallurgical process plant to treat 10,000 tonnes per annum of Browns Range mineral concentrate containing 30% TREO.

The study was based on the hydrometallurgical flowsheet and locating the process plant at the Browns Range site.

The estimated capital cost for this facility is A$40 million (±35%) and the operating cost is estimated at A$4.40 per kilogram of mineral concentrate feed.

Additionally, Northern Minerals has commissioned an economic and environmental location study to investigate potential locations for the hydrometallurgical plant in Australia.

Northern Minerals has already begun the optimisation phase of the test work program, which will test key variables for each stage of the process to determine the optimal operating criteria.

The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding for offtake with an international partner.

The MoU allows for supply of product as either a 30% TREO mineral concentrate or a 92% mixed rare earth oxide.

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A joint project between Japan and Jamaica will investigate whether the Caribbean country’s bauxite waste will be able to yield rare-earth elements that are used in consumer electronics. Japanese company Nippon Light Metal invested $3 million for a new processing plant, breaking ground in St. Andrew, Jamaica, on Monday.

“This project represents the kind of industrial diversification that this country needs, if it is to realize its economic potential and improve the living standards of the people,” Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said, speaking to a group of Japanese and Jamaican officials and researchers. Miller suggested that the plant could be one of the most “significant projects ever undertaken in Jamaica,” should it prove beneficial.

The project will call for the acid treatment of tons of the dry, red mud found near Jamaica’s mining areas to see if rare-earth elements can be extracted. Rare earth is considered a non-renewable natural resource comprised of a group of 17 chemical elements. The material is used in the manufacturing process of consumer electronics such as smartphones and plasma screens, as well as larger equipment such as satellites.

Researchers at the Jamaica Bauxite Institute believe that the bauxite could provide an easily harvested natural resource for the country, as international demand for rare-earth increases. It is reported that institute Chairman Parris Lyew-Ayee said that because the substance is located in containment ponds, it will prevent stress on the environment. Local environmentalists aren’t as quick to support Lyew-Ayee’s belief.

“Specifically, we have requested details of the precise type of process that will be used … before I can really comment on what the environmental impacts are,” Diana McCaulay, CEO of the Jamaica Environment Trust, told the Observer.

Any rare-earth minerals extracted at the plant would be jointly owned by Jamaica and Nippon Light Metal. Japanese companies have launched similar projects in Kazakhstan and Vietnam, and continue to explore alternative sources for rare-earth elements.

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