China lithium top player boosts investment in emerging Australian miner
Chinese companies continue to aggressively try securing steady supply of lithium, a key ingredient in the making of batteries that power electric cars.
Geodex has acquired by staking the Jake Lee project covering approximately 3800 hectares located 80km south of Fredericton. Geodex will conduct an exploration program focused on the rare earth elements ("REE") potential with a secondary focus on gold and base metals based on the geology and supported by regional government sampling and assessment report data.
Demand for rare earth metals is likely to continue growing at double digit annual rates for the foreseeable future but, the supply side does not look quite as rosy.
According to Molycorp CEO, Mark Smith, while a lot of production has been forecast from a number of small producers, very little of it is likely to come on stream in five years.
Exploration Orbite VSPA has discovered the presence of high-value byproducts such as scandium, gallium and other important rare earth elements in its Grande-Vallée deposit in the Gaspé region of Quebec, all of which offer strong economic potential for the company and for Canada, the company believes.
Exploration Orbite (TSX VENTURE:ORT.A) is pleased to announce the presence of high-value by-products such as scandium, gallium and other important rare earth elements in its Grande-Vallée deposit, all of which offer strong economic potential for the company and for Canada. The Company is also pleased to announce its filing of a provisional U.S. patent application that extends protection for its existing patented technology to the extraction of scandium, gallium and other rare earth elements from aluminous clay.
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman's rare earth legislation may have lit a fire under Molycorp's stock price, which rose 10.3% on Thursday trading.
Coffman, Republican congressman representing Colarado, introduced legislation on Wednesday calling for a variety of measures that would better ensure that the United States has secure access to rare earth metals.
Molycorp stock finished Thursday at $68.45. The stock's 52-week range is $12.10 to $68.79.
The US$89 million shares-and-cash acquisition of Estonia's AS Silmet by Colorado's Molycorp means both rare earth companies "will be able to take advantage of the very robust price situation in the market right now," Molycorp CEO Mark Smith said during a conference call with analysts Monday.
China has increased its 2011 rare earth export quota, says an article by International Business Times:
China has set its total output of rare earth at 93,800 tonnes this year, 4,600 tonnes more or 5.16 percent higher compared to last year's, the Ministry of Land and Resources said this week.
China will increase a tax on rare earths from April 1, the official Xinhua News Agency said on Thursday.
The State Administration of Taxation website carried a local media report, saying the resource tax would be raised to 30-60 yuan per tonne, depending on the type of rare earth mineral, a substantial increase from the current level of 0.5-3 yuan per tonne.