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TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
I thought this was already established by which country rare earth deposits are found. Frankly I wonder why all the misinformation regarding rare earths. Do they actually think if it says China controls 70% of rare earth production, China controls 70% of all rare earths where ever they can be found hence why the US thinks it can stake claims in someone else's country?

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Rare Earths are actually quite common globally. What this seems to be is a means for nations to pitch for US aid in developing mining and marketing of nations looking to sell rare earths.
 

AssassinsMace

Lieutenant General
Rare Earths are actually quite common globally. What this seems to be is a means for nations to pitch for US aid in developing mining and marketing of nations looking to sell rare earths.

Problem is it will still cost the US more. That's why China has that much power over rare earths. Poor countries cannot afford the technology to process rare earths and developed countries don't have the labor to do it on the cheap. China sits right at that sweet spot. Yes the US can find and get all the rare earths they want from other places. It's the price of refining and processing that's threatens supply. Molycorp runs Mountain Pass and they still ship what they get from the earth there to China to be refined and processed because it's cheaper to do so. Yeah Molycorp is lobbying the US government to help refine and process in the US. It wants the industry to be subsidized so they can make a profit from domestic production. It might cheapen the cost to Molycorp but the US government will be paying more than ever. It will always be more expensive for the US to do it on their own no matter where they get their rare earths. China wanted to be the Saudi Arabia of rare earths. And how did Saudi Arabia handle the US fracking industry where Obama bragged the US was now independent from Saudi Arabia and the politics? Since fracking required world oil prices to be at least $60 a barrel in order to be profitable, Saudi Arabia flooded the market with cheap oil thus forcing a lot of fracking companies to go bankrupt. The US will always be stuck in that bind.
 
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TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
Yet we have seen the cost of these rare earths used as a leash. The Short but harsh Economic standoff and the post event epidemic. You point to the Saudis as your example. Today the US imports how much oil from the Saudis? Imports have fallen consistently last year they were down 44%.
They are still the number 2 supplier behind Canada. So saying that it will always be that way is not a solid standing. Yes some frackers went bust happens. Obama and a lot of politics didn’t help.
With the politics of the two powers Washington and Beijing butting heads depending on Chinese exports is a soft spot For Beijing to squeeze. Even if the US doesn’t go 100% to third party rare earths having a 10% option is a good idea. Sure the Chinese could try and flood the market with cheap rare Earths to try and squash it but thats kinda the point is it not? As that small option would mean more diversification. More and more Rare Earths are seen as Strategic materials in much the same way as Nuclear materials. You generally don’t buy Uranium from the guys who point the nukes at you so why by the circuit boards?
 
You did read the Story I was replying to did you not? The one about the US seeking to ease development of Rare earths in other countries. Not the US?
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Aerial view of the Mountain Pass rare earths mine and related ore processing facilities in California operated by MP Materials. Photo: SCMP Pictures
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