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.

 

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

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.

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

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.

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com

PHILLIP Paulwell is insisting that Jamaica's foray into commercial production of rare earth metals is much more than dollars and cents.

'Since we made the initial announcement to the Parliament and Jamaica, two weeks ago, most of the attention attracted both locally and internationally has focused on the dollars and cents and the economic opportunity, but the project means much more,' Paulwell, the science, technology, energy, and mining minister said yesterday.

 He was speaking at a ground-breaking ceremony for a US$3-million pilot plant on the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) premises at Hope Gardens in St Andrew.

The pilot is being undertaken in partnership with researchers from Japanese company Nippon Light Metal Company Limited — a publicly traded aluminium supplier headquartered in Tokyo with annual revenues of over US$7 billion and more than 10,000 employees.

Nippon has confirmed high concentrations of rare earth elements in Jamaica's red mud deposits, and that those elements can be extracted efficiently.

Yesterday, Paulwell said that there is the prospect of great financial and strategic benefit to both nations, and that Jamaica stands to gain much more from working with Japan.

He said the project was the realisation of work done by Jamaican scientists who have been on the cutting edge of research on the area for years.

"We expect that all the various learning institutions will participate completely in the unfolding of this project," Paulwell said, adding that, while a planned three-storey, US$3 million building will be erected over three months, some of the preliminary work will be done by the JBI at its labs.

"All the equipment that is needed is either here or on the high seas, that's what we mean by being serious about doing business and getting things done in a timely way," he said in noting the three-month construction deadline.

Also addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said the development is the second step to the establishment of a commercial plant to extract sediments which, if realised, will add significant value to the Jamaican economy.

"One indicator of the potential and significance of this public/private partnership is the vast levels of publicity and interest this news has generated globally. The JBI has been flooded with calls and enquiries, mainly because rare earth metals are critically important to industries, and commercial supplies are relatively scarce to some industries," Simpson Miller said.

"I believe we must balance the books, because it is very important, but at the same time we must balance people's lives. We can only do that if we have a strong economic foundation," she said, noting that "a critical part of that foundation is research and development but also innovation".

Said the prime minister: "This project will employ scientists and engineers, and we do have in Jamaica excellent scientists and engineers. Our universities need now to be more focused on training specialist students to take up jobs in fields associated with technology."

She said Jamaica will continue to look to the East, while building its ties with the West.

"We are standing on the threshold of something that could be truly revolutionary," she said, while emphasising that every care will be taken to protect the environment during the process.

"I am absolutely committed to the development of our economy, but it cannot be at the expense of the environment... I have made it clear to the Cabinet that every care must be taken as we seek to commercially exploit our rare earth elements," the prime minister said.

Rare earth metals are used in the creation of DVDs, cellphones, rechargeable batteries, digital cameras and most optic lenses, among other things.

 

Rare Earth Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email: sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, WML Version: http://m.chinatungsten.com