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Supply problems and an over-reliance on China continue to challenge the rising demand for rising rare earths.
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With rare earth prices climbing on fresh demand from the new-energy sector and the potential for future Chinese supply constraints, governments outside China are supporting new sources of supply, William Clarke reports.
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Not for the first time, governments are focusing attention on supplies of rare earths as a vital resource for many areas of industry and technology. William Clarke reviews key international rare-earth supply chains and plans as the materials take center stage in a rush for new energy minerals
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With government support for rare earths mining increasing, a growing number of miners – including mineral sands producers – now see value in a market that, for a long time, was effectively closed to non-Chinese producers due to its high costs and strict environmental regulations.
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Delays to exports of minerals from China are inevitable as a result of the nation’s battle to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. Davide Ghilotti and Carrie Shi made a mid-February assessment of the impacts.
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A round-up of the year’s main events in the global rare earths market.
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A round-up of all this year's events in the global industrial mineral sector.
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With trade wars once again exacerbating concerns over critical mineral supplies, Fastmarkets correspondent Rose Pengelly looks at whether new technologies can make coal a viable alternative source of rare earths.
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Climate change policies have long been part of the conversation in the EU, which set strong 20% reduction targets for 2020, but as Vasili Nicoletopoulos* discusses, the push to go green has had an impact on the mining industry worldwide.
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India has recorded economic growth of around 7% per year in the past three years. But while it has significant resources of some of the most widely used industrial minerals, this sector has shown only modest growth, as Industrial Minerals correspondent Sunder Singh discovers.
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If 2016 should be remembered with a shudder, then 2017 will be remembered as the year when it became harder to source minerals. The supply situation changed for many minerals in the markets that Industrial Minerals covers, not least because many producers were simply shut down by strict environmental laws in China, or found it harder to source materials due to demand-side challenges, consultant editor Siobhan Lismore-Scott writes.
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In the wake of President Trump’s announcement that the US will be pulling out of the 2015 Paris Climate Treaty,
IM looks at the significance of this move and the possible impact this will have on the industrial minerals market.
By Mark Rowe
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A commodities market rebound in 2016 left the rare earths sector largely untouched, but some companies are still determined to bring new mines online, writes IM Correspondent, Rose Pengelly.
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A plan to recycle waste from fertiliser plants to produce pure rare earths and gypsum is the latest to come out of Russia’s metallurgical science community, but this project is already facing many of the obstacles that have scuppered previous similar endeavors, Vladislav Vorotnikov, IM Correspondent, finds.
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An EU-funded project has developed innovative deep-mining strategies that are set to cut Europe’s dependence on the imported rare earth elements (RE) within four years, while also curbing environmental damage.
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Alumina is the most widely used raw material in technical ceramics production, accounting for up to 80% of the total used. Jessica Roberts* looks at some of the key raw materials in advanced ceramics and their supply chains and outlines which sectors are poised for growth.
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A roundup of the year's main events in the global rare earths industry.
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The terms “critical” and “strategic” used to describe the importance of various minerals and metals to different countries and organisations are often applied without definition or context. George J Simandl, Carlee Akam and Suzanne Paradis outline the case for appropriate use of these terms to avoid misunderstandings and misrepresentations.
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After yet another trying twelve months for rare earths companies, the future for the industry remains uncertain. James Sean Dickson, Reporter, looks at recent market developments and the prospects for Western and Chinese producers amid conditions of oversupply and soft demand.
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The Australian resources sector is adjusting to lower commodity prices, which have necessitated a revision of cost structures and spending plans. IM gets a feel for the industry’s sentiments and looks at how the country’s miners are making plans to do business in a post-supercycle environment.
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The continuation of illegal mining in China, low prices and substitution made 2015 a difficult year for the rare earths industry and miners face a challenging year ahead, Rachel Carnac, discusses.
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UK AIM-listed Rare Earth Minerals Plc has taken Bacanora Minerals Ltd’s Sonora lithium project under its wing and is now singing, or rather shouting, from the top of the wall about the project’s credentials. Laura Syrett, Acting Editor, speaks to REM’s CEO, Kiran Morzaria, about his company’s ambitions for the Mexico-based deposit.
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Rules covering thorium discharge in many of the world’s top rare earths-consuming countries have prevented the development of potentially valuable domestic resources in these regions and helped cement China’s monopoly over the sector. James Kennedy* and John Kutsch** discuss the social and economic disadvantages of this situation and outline how a new nuclear strategy could help solve the problem.
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Falling energy prices hit demand for cleantech minerals; CRMs on par with base and precious metals in 2014
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Despite new production coming online from US-based Molycorp in 2012 and Australia-based Lynas Corp. in 2013, China still retained almost 90% of global rare earths production in 2014.
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Energy minerals still waiting for battery lift off; chromite market bearish over next 12 months
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The downturn of the global “commodities supercyle” and slowing raw material demand in China has been felt keenly in Australia’s resources sector. But while proponents of Australian mining admit the industry isn’t quite as mighty as it used to be, they say that there are still plenty of reasons to be positive Down Under, Siobhan Lismore-Scott, Editor and
Laura Syrett, Prices Editor, discover.
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Alkane look to zircon markets with the Dubbo project
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Andrew Scogings, IM Correspondent, looks into Northern Minerals’ Brown project in Western Australia and discusses the rare earths markets it is targeting.
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The rare earths supply risk and consequent panic buying that emerged in 2011 paved the way for sluggish demand, oversupply and low prices. In light of this, recycling rare earths from downstream products might appear an unnecessary economic burden. Antonio Torrisi, Reporter, investigates how this technology can integrate with new mining projects to promote future stability and sustainability in the rare earths market.
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Vietnam has 3,260km of coastline, along which the main sand deposits containing ilmenite, rutile, zircon and other heavy minerals are distributed. Tran Kim Phuong* outlines how these deposits can be of use for the rare earths — or the TiO2 — market.
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The Industrial Minerals Congress launched 40 years ago, in 1974, and was attended by over 400 delegates from 36 different countries. As we prepare for the 22nd Congress, which will be held in Vancouver this month, IM approached several industry leaders and asked each of them the same five questions to get their perspectives on how the market has changed.
Siobhan Lismore-Scott, Editor
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There are rare earths, olivine and feldspar deposits on Greenland, but hopes for independence lie with Denmark
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Kasia Patel, Senior Reporter
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Fluorspar prices to remain flat to 2016, iodine resists further drop and rare earths halt their decline
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Competition in the junior rare earths industry shows no sign of abating, with 2013 registering record numbers of developers looking for a stake in the sector. Laura Syrett discusses what separates the wheat from the chaff when it comes to picking projects with a chance of succeeding.
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The majority of the industrial mineral industry is still waiting for the post-summer resumption of buying activity to take effect, pricing information gathered by IM in September suggests.
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Following a quiet start to the year for rare earths (RE), leading newcomer to the industry US-based Molycorp Inc. signed a definitive agreement to buy the processing firm Neo Material Technologies Inc. for Canadian dollar C$1.3bn ($1.31bn) in March.
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Metal Events and Roskill Information Services discuss key issues in the market ahead of industry conference
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Turbulence continued to dominate the rare earths industry throughout 2012 as the majority of global supply remained under China’s lock and key. Export quota restrictions remained firmly in place during the past 12 months, as the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reduced export limits by 27% year-on-year for the first half of 2012 and withheld quotas from more than 20 Chinese companies.
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As China continues to defy international pressure to ease its rare earths supply restrictions, IM considers how the country’s policy initiatives are changing the face of its internal industry.
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While rare earths, zircon and TiO2 feedstocks slipped in September, antimony trioxide prices showed some recovery.
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Barytes up while graphite market softens and a rare earth platform hoves into view
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There are three main sectors for production of ceramics in the world: porcelain/tableware, sanitaryware and tiles. In all of these markets, China is the world’s leading producer and consumer and it is just the global ceramic tiles sector that will be considered in the following.
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International public policies regarding rare earths have centred around the basic question: “What are the Chinese trying to do?” Vasili Nicoletopoulos discusses Chinese concerns and policies and investigates just how smartly the rest of the world is reacting:
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As China continues to hold the whip hand on rare earths, so the need to develop new sources becomes ever-more critical, as Gerry Clarke reports
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Greece is opening its doors to private investment to boost domestic industries. Ananias Tsirambides and Anestis Filippidis discuss the country’s key exploration targets for industrial minerals development
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With its position at the heart of Central Asia, and significant mineral resources including lithium and rare earths, Afghanistan holds vast potential for attracting private sector investment, Vasili Nicoletopoulos reveals
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Described as a “complex and intriguing topic”, Vasili Nicoletopoulos examines the rare earths industry and the continuing influence of China generating concern for the short term outlook
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China’s downsized rare earth exports have tightened global supply – now RE juniors are looking to fill the gap. Dudley Kingsnorth reviews the 10 steps for project development and highlights candidates for new supply
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As China shifts its focus from exports to domestic demand-led growth, Mongolia has an opportunity to supply China as well as neighbouring countries.
Alexander Czarnecki assesses the country’s industrial minerals potential and its attraction to foreign investors
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Bumpy road ahead for pigment producers as construction and automotive markets decline in the west but rise in the east, driven by an emerging Asian middle class
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Strong government support is seeing increased development of Vietnam’s key mineral resources, but red tape threatens to hold back over-eager foreign investors
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The new generation of alternative power sources are providing attractive prospects for industrial mineral applications. Despite the recession, and against expectations, the photovoltaic and wind power sectors grew significantly in 2009, a trend that is expected to continue through 2014
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From wind turbines to missiles, rare earth based magnets can been seen as strategic in many ways. But why are they so special? Can they be replaced? And does the magnet industry have an over-reliance on a product derived from a source controlled by China and on the verge of a supply crisis? Simon Moores talked with Gareth Hatch of Technology Metals Research, LLC to find out
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How heavy and light rare earth elements (REE) are fundamental to today’s most advance technology markets
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Fears of a supply shortage outside China have triggered a global rush to develop alternative sources of rare earth elements, critical to defence and clean energy technology. Mark Watts looks at the sweeping changes facing the industry.
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Despite a recent dip in exploration expenditure, Australia remains a host for key industrial mineral targets, some close to fruition, spurred on by state government initiatives
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Seeking Saudi mineral potential: A shift in national policy to diversify into non-oil resources has prompted domestic development and overseas interest in Saudi Arabia’s considerable wealth of untapped industrial minerals
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…when you’re in the minerals business! IM reports on the 2009 SME Meeting which covered China, rare earths, new and emerging issues, and reducing the carbon footprint
by Mike O’Driscoll, Editor
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China has switched to domestic demand priority status. Those relying on Chinese mineral exports should now be seeking alternative sources. Here we examine how China’s mineral industry has changed tack, its impact on world markets, how it will cope with the recession, and spotlight on barytes, bauxite, fluorspar, magnesite, paper minerals, and rare earths
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The EU’s position in global mineral supply, commodity trends, EU industries and policies, and future challenges are examined by Linda Hetherington and Andrew Bloodworth
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Dudley J Kingsnorth looks at the world market and sees how the industry is coping with present and future demands
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As the word continues to seek a passage into India's industrial minerals industry, the country has continued to strengthen through domestic expansions and international acquisitions.
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IM attended this year’s SME Annual Meeting & Exhibit in Salt Lake City, which provided a stimulating industrial minerals programme – shortages, oilfield supply, rare earths, and recent start-ups
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Vietnam has rich rare earth resources, particularly in the north-west of the country, but to reach its potential Dinh Van Dzien and Tran Kim Phuong believe foreign investment is a necessity
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Peter Harben reports from the 43rd Forum on the Geology of Industrial Minerals held 20-25 May in Boulder, Colorado, USA
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THE WORLD OF industrial minerals has become dominated by, and highly dependant on China. In almost every sector, Chinese minerals have become the price and quality base line.
In the last decade, China’s exports and minerals production have metamorphosed from basic ‘raw material production’ using very simplistic methods, to ever more production and export of processed minerals. This progression has had profound effects and implications for producers, processors and consumers worldwide.
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Rare earths breathe Dragon’s fire: a frank dissection of China’s rare earths industry, citing its pros and cons both domestically and in the context of the world market. Challenges facing this growth sector and a forward looking strategy are outlined
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SMEs are at the core of the EU’s entrepreneurship policy
revamp. Michelle Wyart-Remy, IMA Europe General- Secretary, describes the problems industrial minerals SMEs may encounter when facing the EU health and safety programme.
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