Almost all high-purity yttria is currently produced in China. The DoD uses yttrium oxide in several defense applications such as polishing compounds for precision lasers and thermal barrier coatings for jet engines. The DoD has projected an annual shortfall of 93 short tons of elemental yttrium from domestic sources by 2013.
"We intend to advance previous Department of Defense research to uncover the extent to which the defense industrial base has the capacity to produce high-purity yttrium oxide to support critical defense programs," interim GWMG chief executive Robert Quinn said in a release. Source: Great Western Minerals to conduct yttrium oxide purification assessment for U.S. Department of Defense. (Reliability: Moderate) Comments: Since China produces nearly 95 percent of the world's rare earths, and since there are not effective substitutes for yttrium, finding domestic sources for mining and production is likely to become more important to national defense security. The use of yttrium as a component in phosphors and electronics is especially important to US economics and defense applications.
BRUSSELS (REUTERS)-Solvay an international chemical group committed to sustainable development is opening two rare earth recycling units in France. Solvay has developed a process for recovering rare earths contained in end-of-life equipment such as low-energy light bulbs, batteries and magnets.
The project was first launched in 2007, it required two years of research and development followed by two years of industrialization studies and on site selection. The investment of the project was approved in 2011. Solvay decided to focus on low-energy light bulbs because the recovery channel already existed. Light bulbs contain six different rare earths (lanthanum, cerium, terbium, yttrium, europium, and gadolinium). Solvay can recycle the light bulb while preserving 100 percent of its functional properties.
The process begins when used light bulbs are collected, sorted, and processed by specialized companies. These companies recycle their different components (glass, metals, plastics, mercury). The luminescent powders are shipped to Solvay's facility in Saint-Fons (Rhone-Alpes, France) where the rare earth concentrate is extracted. Than it is shipped to La Rochelle (Charente Maritime, France) where the rare earths are separated. Once the rare earths are separated, they are reformulated into luminescent precursors that will be reused in the manufacturing of new lamps.
Solvay has developed a large number of innovations used in flat screens, low-energy light bulbs, automotive pollution control, and high precision opticals. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels, it employs about 31,000 people in 55 countries and generates about USD 16.4 billion in net sales in 2011. Source: Solvay Launches Its Rare Earth Recycling Activity In France(Reliability: Medium)
Comment: Solvay is aiming to become a major player in the recycling of rare earths. Global demand for rare earths is growing at more than 6 percent per year. This makes the elements a strategic raw material.
WASHINGTON (BUSINESS WIRE) -- A laser-powered needle will make flu-shots and any type of injections painless. Microscopic sets of drugs will be blasted into the skin and could make getting a shot similar to being 'hit with a puff of air'. The system uses an yttrium/aluminum compound laser to propel a tiny and precise stream. This type of laser is traditionally used by dermatologists. Despite other competitors being able to do this mechanically, this method can precisely control the dose and the depth to which the drug is administered. The next step is to produce low cost injectors for clinical use. In the future it may be possible to administer this method to children for mass vaccine injections - pain free.Source:Laser Powered Needle Promises Pain Free Injections(Reliability: Medium)
Comment: Yttrium's uses continue to grow and as a mineral in high demand, it will become more important in the US business sector. With such reliance on this mineral and little in the way of replacements/alternatives - yttrium will continue to be central to the tensions over rare-earths and minerals. Sources of this mineral will be much coveted and fought over in the next 3-5 years.
FAIRBANKS, AL (NEWSMINER) -- Several geologists with the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, part of the Department of Natural Resources, are taking part in a $3 million state effort to create a detailed map of strategic and critical minerals, including rare earth elements, cobalt, platinum, tin, and yttrium, in order to determine their potential in Alaska. The growing issue of rare earths to national security is causing a rush to determine Alaska's rare earth potential. More than 95 percent of the rare earth elements are used in a variety of military hardware. This mapping effort is aimed at kick starting in-state development of Alaska's resources. The mapping project is already paying large dividends to the state in a new boom of resource development and a third of all strategic mineral exploration occurred in Alaska in the last two years. Source:Alaska Geologists Part of Effort to Map Locations of Strategic and Critical Minerals(Reliability: Medium)
Comment: The mapping project in Alaska began last year and will continue through the end of this year and through next year.
Locations and % TREO of drill sites at Brown's Range
Northern Minerals (Western Australia) - In an attempt to address the increasing global demand for HRE minerals, Australian mining company Northern Minerals is exploring new deposits in the north-eastern section of Western Australia. Their most recent diamond drilling cores, at the Brown's Range show the highest grade HRE to date, at 4.15% Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) containing high levels of yttrium and one instance at 9.58% TREO. These most recent prospect drillings are an extension of a 2011 program by Northern Mineral to target high margin mineralization at Brown's Range. Northern Mineral owns all of the rights to this range, and is conducting an analysis of 22 drilled core samples to gather data for a Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) resource report. Source:http://www.northernminerals.com.au/new/index.php?option=com_edocman&task=document.download&id=359&Itemid=135
(Reliability: Medium)
Comment: If China continues to restrict its export of Rare Earths, Australia could quickly move in to fill the demand for critical minerals. Companies like Northern Mineral are positioning themselves to take advantage of this gap.
VANCOUVER, CANADA. (RAREEARTHINVESTINGNEWS.COM) -- Greenland hosts enough of the rare earth minerals to supply a quarter of global demand for the next 50 years. While it has a rich history with minerals - very little has been done to advance projects. However, one of the biggest challenges is that only 15% of Greenland is free of ice.
Mining and exploration in Greenland is limited
to the coastal portions of the island.
According to Dr. Damien Degeorges (an academic who has worked extensively on Greenlandic issues) 25% of demand could be met by Greenland each year until 2062. Greenland is looking to become more financially independent from Denmark and mining could be a big part of that freedom.
Although there is not a great deal of mining going on already - there is a wealth of potential as the government is pro-mining and hosts gold, base metals, rare earths and diamonds. Greenland is similar to Canada and includes Archaean craton (a crust layer known for its riches in minerals). Despite its geological appeal - it is still vastly unexplored.
The bulk of Greenland is frozen under the Inland Ice Cap and has thus far hindered exploration. Mining would be limited to coastal portions of the island. There are also concerns as to whether mining could occur without damaging the country's pristine Arctic environment. One further problem could be the dispersion of Uranium dust which may be found whilst mining for minerals.
Source: Rare Earth Mining in Greenland. (Reliability: High)
Comment: It is reported that there is favorable mix of rare earths, yttrium and heavy rare earth oxides. According to the latest survey, a lot of rare earths were overlooked in the 1990's when exploration began.
