Posted on 08/02/2011 5:57:55 PM PDT by jazusamo
Elk Creek, Neb. (population 112), may not be so tiny much longer. Reports suggest that the southeastern Nebraska hamlet may be sitting on the world’s largest untapped deposit of “rare earth” minerals, which have proved to be indispensable to a slew of high-tech and military applications such as laser pointers, stadium lighting, electric car batteries and sophisticated missile-guidance systems.
Canada-based Quantum Rare Earths Developments Corp. last week received preliminary results from test drilling in the area, showing “significant” proportions of “rare earth” minerals and niobium.
The only people more excited than Quantum? The residents of Elk Creek, where nearly one in seven people live under the poverty line, but whose economy has been booming ever since the company showed up late last year to start laying the groundwork for a possible mining bonanza.
“It’s been a very, very positive experience for our community,” said state Sen. Lavon Heidemann, an Elk Creek farmer. “When Quantum came in here, they put money in the local community. And any time you have money flowing in a small town, that’s a positive.”
The potential mining operation, the first in the U.S. in a decade, could have an international impact as well. U.S. officials and lawmakers in Congress have been eager to break the near monopoly on global production of the 17 rare-earth elements in China, which has shown its willingness to use its power in the market for political ends.
Quantum acquired a circular piece of land - a bit more than 4 miles in diameter - near Elk Creek late last year. The land, which the U.S. Geological Survey projects may have one of the world’s largest deposits of niobium and rare earths, has since been poked, prodded and drilled to determine whether it held any niobium, which has never been mined...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
While it is good for the country, the hard part is concentrating and separating rare earths. It is terribly hard, because the different elements tend to be chemically similar, and it tends to be very polluting.
The US now has three major rare earth areas, one in California, one in Texas, and this one. But hopefully this one will stimulate the industry to develop better, and less polluting means of refinement.
The easiest way is likely through the use of genetically modified microorganisms and plants, that can distinguish between different elements and selectively concentrate them. This is already being done for some other, toxic metals.
Why? I’ve been up there; fantastically productive land, great hard-working people, good Universities, gegraphic center of the nation, what’s wrong?
It’d be a real boon to develop less polluting methods of separating the rare earths and the technology, as you say, has to be coming.
There have been several articles posted here regarding the Mountain Pass mine and pollution has been the big problem there.
It takes seven years to open a small gold mining operation here in Nevada.
Even in an area that has depended of gold production for a century.
The eco-nuts WILL extort the mining company if they try to begin production.
And just why is it that every time I hear of a new mining venture, it is a Canadian company?
How are the Canadians so able to pursue so many projects American companies apparently cannot?
Something is very wrong here.
The problem isn't in mining the ore ~ or in handling processed rare earths. It's instead the question of crushing the ore ~ there is always some residual radiation in the stuff and when you bust the ore bodies to powder to move it on to extraction you release whatever there is.
Human beings are kind of sensitive to it ~ so DOE wants it done right and OSHA will want it done safely.
This will be a new mining operation so it'd be a safe bet they will do everything correctly ~ in older mining operations they simply didn't understand the risk. One large mine has been retrofitted for the purpose of containing the radiation and it should have come back on line this Summer.
They may be quiet because the future of their little putt-putt cars depend on the availability of some of these metals.
If I lived around there, I’d try to buy up as much land as I could. Who knows who might be sitting on a “gold mine”.
BTW, if the evironmentalists invent a nearly-extinct salamander nearby that must have its habitat protected, you’ll know the fix is in. That’s their standard procedure to halt drilling or expansion now is to claim some fictitous lizard or beetle will be wiped out.
“The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2011”
Not impressed with the author, how about including the ACTUAL BILL NUMBER so we can offer our support!
“The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2011”
Not impressed with the author, how about including the ACTUAL BILL NUMBER so we can offer our support!
Found it.
H.R. 2011
http://naturalresources.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=253644
Needs to cut the red tape with an ax, seven years to open a small gold mine is ridiculous.
Should include drilling for oil too, F’ Obammie and his goal of destroying our economy/jobs.
China will be buying Quantum and Nebraska shortly.
You beat me. :-)
which means government hasn't decided whether to tax at 80% or 90%
or whether to declare the ants on any of the mineral lands as endangered.
President Obama today declared Elk Creek Nebraska a National Landmark thereby restricting forever the extraction of any materials that would contribute to the economy and well being of the United States and the people of Elk Creek.
Tomorrow at 10 AM from the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago...
They don’t have to invent any species, they just plant some nest, feathers, or (Lynx) hairs of already “endangered” species and claim the area as critical habitat.
I have never heard of them being prosecuted for these frauds, no matter how red-handed they are caught.
You forgot our Lithium mine in Silver Peak, Nevada.
Rumor has it another may open in Crescent Valley.
China supply’s the world because of cheap labor. There are several rare earth mines in Kentucky. However, I hope the people do well with their mines, more supply will lower price. Good for everyone.
I have distant relatives that were from Nebraska.
We had “interesting experiences” when we visited Lincoln. Just surprising that the state capital would be so rough around the edges. They could start with resurfacing the streets.
I wasn’t objecting to your statement that Nebraska’s economy might be depressed right now,it may well be for all I know. I just wondered why, with all that the state has going for it after spending some time working up there getting to know the place myself, 20 years ago.
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