While there are many opportunities for  company that should have been included among the ‘chosen ones’. That company is Matamec Exploration. Matamec recently issued an update of the progress of the feasibility study for the proposed Kipawa heavy rare earths mine. The mine has earned the confidence of one of the largest corporations in the world, Toyota, which formed a joint venture with Toyota Tsusho Corp (‘Tsusho’, a trading company part of the Toyota Motor Co. group).

Toyota plans to source rare metals need make hybrid and electric vehicles. Under the deal, Tsusho acquired a 49% stake in Matamec’s Kipawa heavy rare earth (HREE) deposit in Quebec in return for a CAD$ 16 million investment to enable Matamec to complete a feasibility study on the property, which can now be expected by the second quarter of 2013. To date Matamec over CAD$ 12 million out of the total CAD$ 16 million for the completion of a definitive feasibility study. The Feasibility Study for Kipawa is proceeding as planned and the results are expected by the end of Q2 2013.

Tsusho delivered the first CAD$ 8.5 million tranche of the investment (amounting to 25% of the agreed upon interest in Kipawa) at the end of last summer. The actual amount of rare earths used in hybrid vehicles is small; however, these elements are absolutely crucial for the manufacturing of the magnets, superconductors, catalysts and batteries that are increasingly used in hybrid and electric vehicles. HREE’s are making it possible to reduce battery weight, dimensions while increasing their power in conjunction with developments in battery charging technology that will drive demand for EV’s and hybrids over the next few years.

                 

While the agreement is a boon for Matamec, which will be in strong financial position to develop its deposit to production stage, it is of even greater strategic value for Toyota Tsusho, which needs to secure rare earth elements. Indeed, in commercial terms, Matamec’s partner of choice offers immediate commercial applications.

The key elements of the implementation phase include the environmental impact study, sustainable development and of course the 2012 drilling campaign and estimation of mineral resources results among other aspects. The estimated capital costs for the operations are at an advanced stage and are expected to be finalized this spring. These estimates will be optimized by the next two months as well as infrastructure design will be reviewed in order to minimize the associated costs. Demand for rare earths could soon exceed supply, given that China produces 97% of these critical metals and is tightening the reins on exports. Matamec, meanwhile, “is the only rare earth exploration company to have received funds to accelerate and complete a feasibility study and an environmental and social impact assessment study of a HREE deposit”. If the yardstick is perhaps the time needed to complete the preliminary assessments and the availability of financing, Matamec satisfies Tracy’s PDAC Challenge as a worthy investment proposition.


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Lanthanum oxide finished as the week’s biggest mover in this week after dropping 6.4 percent. The past week saw cerium oxide close after a 6 percent decline.

The price of praseodymium neodymium oxide, however, rose 1.7 percent after falling 3.2 percent during the previous week.

Praseodymium oxide fell 1.3 percent over the past week. Dysprosium oxide remained unchanged for the week. Europium oxide prices held steady from the previous week.

The week finished with no movement for neodymium oxide. Rare earth carbonate remained essentially flat from the previous week. Samarium oxide traded sideways last week. Terbium metal remained unchanged for the week.


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With sea ice thawing and new shipping routes opening in the Arctic, the former Cold War ally of the West has emerged from isolation as a geopolitical interest for governments seeking a share of untapped minerals and potential offshore oil and gas. Prime Minister Kuupik Kleist has opened up Greenland to investors over the last four years.

    

In tumbled trend of rare earth prices throughout 2012, during the state and enterprises to take a premium Shouchu discontinued insured and other measures were not rare earth prices can significantly rising trend. According to publicly available data, in 2012 about 40% year-on-year decline in the annual average price of rare earth, close to being "cut." Dysprosium oxide and terbium oxide average market price of the more significant reduction in the price declines of 40% and 46.6%. However, the export of of lanthanide products and cerium but contrarian rose year-on-year growth of 41% and 84% respectively, the price decline is also smaller. Can be seen, the larger decline in export prices of heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium, terbium, and the light rare earth exports impact on a smaller scale.

The still general consulting metallurgical industry analysts pointed out that the fourth quarter of 2011, so far scarce rare earth prices by illegal private mines and overseas mining heavy volume, was a the shock downward trend, but the southern ionic rare earth minerals for our unique, rich in heavy The rare earth elements, there are obvious advantages compared to overseas rare earth mine in the reserves and grade. So the next few years is expected the heavy rare earth prices will gradually rise, light rare earths by the heavy volume of overseas mines will maintain low volatility. Heavy rare earth prices rise, mainly due to the following:

First, the heavy rare earth reserves are very limited. Based on USGS data show: the world's total rare earth reserves of 110 million tons, the Chinese reserves accounted for 50% of the approximately 55 million tons, which only 3% of China's reserves of about 165 million tons of proven reserves of southern China's rare earth ionic, therefore, rare earth ionic annual output of 50,000 tons of dollars static reserve-production ratio of less than 37 years, and this the main varieties of the ore in gold. The heavy rare earth is only part of the rare earth ionic, so more scarce. According to the agency is expected in the next world, more than 80% -90% of the heavy rare earth demand will continue from China to meet.

Second, will accelerate the reduction of the heavy rare earth stocks. The main reason for the decline of heavy rare earth prices in the near future is that pre some countries, as foreseen in the heavy rare earth scarcity to import large quantities of the formation of the stock, while the economic crisis lead to downstream companies cut a short-term oversupply situation, so the heavy rare earth. As the economy rebounds, the downstream enterprises will accelerate the consumption of existing inventory of heavy rare earth new demand will rapidly increase.

Third, the Southern rare earth industry will accelerate the integration. Another reason is that the Southern small mines stealing stealing and selling heavy rare earth prices. Currently, relevant departments have formulated relevant industrial policies, to increase the punishment for the rare earth indiscriminate digging of private behavior, Southern Rare Earth resources in the province are encouraged to promote the industry consolidation. Industry consolidation is complete, the efforts to control production and prices for the heavy rare earth will be greatly enhanced.

Other hand, according to the agency expects that by 2015, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium and four light rare earth ore production in China of the world's total output than will decline from 94% in 2010 to 61% in 2015. Moreover, the future of the four light rare earth ore production will increase every year. This will greatly ease the contradiction between supply and demand of the light rare earths, so future prices will be difficult to improve.


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