Rare earth minerals shortage looms

As I understand it, China has most of the rare earth element (REE) deposits (a little over half, I haven't seen a breakdown by element, but often different elements can be used for similar purposes), and some of them are not contaminated with radioactive elements (unlike in most other places). So this has all the makings of a long-term problem (or economic fact) that has no easy answers. It is hard to say if looking harder for these elements in other countries actually results in finding them.

In any case, China will probably produce more than half of the world's REE for the next century.

the Chinese don't have a problem with ecofreaks... because, quite simply, they send the troops and riot police in on any protesters who get in the way... similarly, their workers don't enjoy the same protections ours do because they get laid off if they try and demand them...

Basically, the Chinese are cheating and shouldn't be allowed to export to the rest of the world until their own environment and workers enjoy the same protections ours do.

Why else do our global corporations so willingly shift their factories to China? Because they can get away with dirty practices and also abuse their workers. Until that advantage is taken away from the Chinese, our own manufacturing will always be at a disadvantage.

I find it hard to believe people try to justify using fossil fuels. you can't, we all do it though and it isn't really our choice to do it. We found something that works and it has done great things for humans. Now we are stuck on it and we aren't making enough effort to find other sources. I bet if every country in the world would put there money together they could have fussion power in the next 10 years. It's too bad we have great people in the oil industry that keep preventing that from happening. You just can't being wasteful, you should appreciate what you have. I have a 1000W gaming computer, but I turn it off when I'm not using it. I ride a bike instead of drive everywhere. I have also used low wattage bulbs in my house. I have done everything I could to not be wasteful, but I still waste things. It would be great to not have to worry about using fossil fuels. I plan on have solar panels installed on my house this summer. I know what I do is wasteful and I want to do as much as I can to off set that. I would have a wind tower in my yard, but the county I live in has laws against that. AT&T can put a cell tower a mile from my house, but I can't put up a wind tower.*sigh*

Everyone is a hypocrite. Get over it.

The veracity of a statement has no causal connection to the motives of the person saying it. Hypocrites are often quite correct, that does not mean that they are not hypocrites, it just means that they have contradicted themselves.

They also call it "attack the messenger"

A sure sign of a weak position, if it is the primary argument for that position.

No, "squander" is an absolute term, confirmed by your bragging about it.

Airplanes? Space Shuttle? Computers? -- YES, usually wasteful, especially the Shuttle, hasn't advanced us a bit, but now only 4 more wasteful flights.

You present obviously ridiculous false alternatives. There IS SO a reasonable middle ground, but having slipped and written "finite", you now seem intent on leaving it.

Hey dan, nice to see you checkin in again. Some clarification:

(1) Regarding squander: driving a pickup with an 8 foot bed every day "in case you need to haul a full sheet of plywood someday" is one example of squander.

(2) I didn't say some fossil fuels are good and some are bad. I said that the way amount that we use oil, makes oil very expensive and by using less we would all benefit from lower prices. Why are you against lower gas prices? Or did you not bother readuing what I posted?

(3)I didn't have any objection to someone using rare earth. Again, read what I read.

(4) A vehicle takes a given amount of energy to travel, you are correct. But by driving slower than the 85 mph you mentioned, less energy will be required to reach the same destination. By using a more efficient engine, less energy will be wasted. By driving a more aerodynamic vehicle, less air resistance will be overcome.

(5) If you're just trying to be argumentative, go ahead. Every time you post here it's a win for teh Inq, they make money off of advertizing after all. :)

China only did this because they told Washington that if Obama meets the Dalai Lama that there would be repercussions. This is the first of many I suspect. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gzIDGivVz_zP9mk4Tc7d9na258WQ

I hope this brings more jobs home.

Maybe it will encourge a few rednecks that drive around with the AC on and windows down to recycle, but I doubt it, more like they will hit a train or bite a blasting cap to get in on the Darwin awards.

Squander is a relative term. You driving 1500 miles to vacation in Florida in a minivan with 6 other people might not seem squanderous to you. To someone in a third world country, that might take all the fossil fuels that they will use in 10 years.

Are airplanes squanderous? How about Space Shuttles? Even Computers, all computers do is allow us to develop more technologies that enable us to squander more resources, by your definition. There's no consistency among the eco freaks campaigns and stories. Either you want stone age - no burning coal or wood, both of those are bad, remember? - or you want the 21st century. There is no middle ground. Because without energy, the 21st century does not exist. You cannot selectively say "this energy use is good and that is bad" because it's all based on your bias.

But have to LOL @ the guy that made this comment: "No need to defend my home as I live in a civilized country (aka I don't need a gun to defend my home)."

Wait till' the going gets tough, buddy.

You make an excellent case for more government control in this area, not that I'M for it. You're aping the conspicuous consumption of The Rich, waste for the sake of waste, by which they fake a sense of personal worth while lacking any real accomplishments.

Your ability to squander is only because you were born lucky, in time even more than place. We are living the best days ever of humanity, possible only because of vast amounts of petroleum. But as soon as that FINITE amount is gone, ALL technology will grind to a halt. (Going back to steam power for a while is the only bright point I see, heh). There is no miraculous new power source on the horizon, nor any likely way off the planet without a stock of petroleum. That's reality, pretty grim.

USE energy, yes, but don't SQUANDER it.

So wait, using some fossil fuel and R.E.E. is ok but some is not? Who gets to play God and decide which is good and which isn't? Why is it the fossil fuels you've decided to live without are the bad ones, and the ones that you've decided are too convenient to throw away are the good ones?

Simple, it's hypocracy. All environmentalist are hypocrites. They force feed you what is right and what is wrong, which is arrived at by what is most convenient for them.

Energy takes money, period. Using less petrol/gas doesn't mean you save money, you simply shift it to another source. Your car needs so many joules of energy, period. Whether it comes from a fossil fuel, a battery using R.E.E., or you pushing it (which comes from food that is grown and processed with fossil fuelds and R.E.E.), it's taking energy generated with fossil fuels and R.E.E. That energy is non-renewable. The fact it's coming indirectly from a non-renewable resource doesn't make it renewable.

This story again?

China said some time last year that they would reduce exports of the raw ores in order to increase production of the (higher-value) refined metals for export and capture more of the value of the resource. It's really nothing to worry about. Well, not unless you're a rare-earth mineral refiner.

Rare earths are something of a misnomer as while they are more rare than some elements, such as iron, they're less rare than others, like gold, osmium, iridium and platinum. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_the_chemical_elements#Abundance_of_elements_in_the_Earth.27s_crust

California has plenty, but Chinese mining has been undercutting them for years, and the mines were largely mothballed.

FaceBook Friends May have Realized STeWie Is Very,Very, Extraordinarily Wealthy Person. Wining Gold Is Number ONE. Minah So DA.

Two Sources of Rare Earth. Earth Originated OutSide this Solar System, Maybe from Star 100 Times larger & that much heavier Metal at times of Disapation in iridium event or Exploded Right into space as Hunk. In Capture, by Present SUN, Moon Flew Right Out of Earth into Orbit, Filled with Mineral & Dark matter.

All Those Minerals ,being LOW Temperature , Melt about point Quartz is Formed. & There WEALTH Sits, Fine Rivers of Value. To Add To Wealth, Iridium Events From Present SUN Send Some heavy Metals Out & Condense on Earth at those moments, Killing Nearly ALL Life, Over & Over. Its Locked into Oil & Coal. Called PitchBlend. everyone Now Say: PITCHBLEND. Ummmm. Good.

Meaning Is Earth has 100 Times More Heavy Mineral Than Originally Calculated 100 Years ago. Most Locked Deep In Bowels of Earth. Burning Coal Recaptures Iridium & some coal plants just burn coal to Sell Heavy meatl AsH.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridium

China has been Hauling OFF People from London, EG Shek?Shers RoundTable Theatres' or WEST Coast of US, Terminal Island & Seattle. Cannabulism Is Only Stav of Life & Certain Quick DEath, often in few months. English have grown accustomed to such Pity, Americans, Like Cattle, Simply Ignore Truth Ad DIE In Droves, at such Times.

Iridium Is Said to have About decade left in EASY Coffers. With Entire Third World Needing and needing and needing some more.Chile issues 50 peso copper irrdium from extensive mines & spells chile, chiie, as don't even want money back. SomePlaces Iridium is more common than Grass.

Damn thinks Phooey, well, Lifestyle suggested IS Standard Fair For Middle Class Chinese. for Average Asian, Pain & Suffering. Where'd katrina victims Go. Why Does Hon Queen Forgive ANYTHING, For GOLD. WhiteHouse Set Up Stock Market on Wall Street just to make success impossible in US ,since lates 1700s'.
NOT Going to Stop & People Here Arn't going To Win. We SEE To That Ourselves. Law is meaningless vocaizations, uttered by beggers. Minerals are truth,Way & Light.

Signed:HardRock STeWie DUKE OF OIL.

Not only did China use a press release to jack up the price of a commodoty they control, they made their (financial) opponent bicker amongst ourself. Ever hear of 'together we stand, divided we fall'?

As a nation we will falter because we are not united. We have no common goal, no universal objectives, we have a bunch of people doing their own thing.

FYI: China will use all of the rare earth on RENEWABLE POWER! Dumbasses. We give everyone $600, and $300 per kid, as a tax break, and then we run out and send that money to China. For a TV that won't work in 5 years. China takes that money and builds wind farms, and gets some actual energy out of the deal. And we call renewables stupid.

Morons, all of you. China will financially kick our ass like we kicked Russia's, because we are complacent and lack patriotism. We will become a poor-ass country, our infrastructure will crumble, and we will sit around bickering amongst ourselves.

@Dan:
(1) If everyone uses less gas, the price per gallon will go down (do some research). So, your truck hurts our energy dependence and your neighbors' wallet. Why not get some patriotism? On that subject, I believe we need to drill in Alaska. It's cheap oil, and if we don't drill it now at our leisure, we will drill it later in desperation and really crap the place up. Canada is already drilling up their, right over the border. :)

(2) I think you totally missed Daniel J's point. He was saying that some people actually try to reduce their consumption, instead of just complaining about others'. It's not about living like a bunch of Amish farmers, it's about not squandering what we have.

(3) Why the hate, and why the narrow view of environmentalists? Granted, people like Kennedy are (were) jackasses for stopping the Mass wind farm, and I think Feinstein is the idiot blocking the solar farm in California, but that's not typical of all of them - it's just that idiots with big mouths who spew scare tactics, are the ones who get elected. There are idiots on both sides of the fence. Heck, I call myself a conservationist just to avoid the hate from the rednecks.

General comments on the article:
(1)Basically, China just made the price of rare earth go through the roof. Smart move, they'll make a fortune. We need to make rare earth AND tvs in America.

(2) Regarding radioactivity: we don't even reprocess the fuel from our nuke plants (Carter killed that program) so why would we complaine about more radioactive stockpiles?

Put it in their own kids jewelry.

You need to learn your history better. The problem wasn't that China wouldn't sell their tea, but that they refused to accept anything else but silver bullion in payment. British traders wanted to trade goods as silver was expensive and in short supply. They could get opium cheaply and quite legally from India so they started trading this illegally with the local Chinese. The Chinese authorities took exception to this and confiscated all opium that the traders had in stock, demanding an undertaking and bond that they wouldn't deal in it any more in order to be allowed to continue business. The traders peddled influence with the british government and managed to get a military force sent out, thus starting the first opium war of 1839-42. The result of this was the seeding of Hong Kong and opening of four ports. The second war started in 1856 was a continuation of the same problem. The Chinese didn't want their population buying opium, which is completely different to not wanting to sell tea.

Since there are plenty of deposits of the minerals in question in the rest of the world, giving fair warning that they may cease supply should get companies off of their backsides and starting producing their own.

Final point to those idiots going on about renewable resources - these minerals are not consumed in batteries and can be recycled. It's still a good deal cleaner process than burning oil.

Living in a civilized country, I'm sure your used to bending over quite a bit.
I'm all for isolationism especially if it means I don't have to shoot civilized twigs so often seeings they just don't have much meat on them. China can keep their minerals and we'll just write off the debt to the little guys.

1. If your bike was not built by you by hand from wood, it used fossil fuels or rare earth minerals to manufacture it and transport it to you. -5 points

2. The local farmers used pesticides (transported by shipping trucks which used - yup - fossil fuels or rare earth minerals), maintained and collected the crops using harvesters which used - get ready for this - fossil fuels or rare earth minerals. Then to get those crops to the market for sale, unless they got on their team of mules and carted it in a wood carriage, you can guess what was consumed.

3. Your home, unless it is a log cabin, used a ton of fossil fuels to build. The electricity, running water, heat, all use fossil fuels to construct and maintain. And I hope you're not refrigerating food in anything other than an ice box or running the A/C at all.

4. Unless you're using carrier pigeons, you used more fossil fuelds and rare earth elements to try to own me in your comment than most people in Africa have access to their entire life.

I don't have a problem with using fossil fuels, I just have a problem with people who think they're above those who openly do use them and think they are not.

Well, I go to work by bike which, not being as eco-friendly was walking barefoot, still beats the truck you own. Oh, and if you want to be really picky, I can walk, it's less than 2 miles to my work place. As for the food, can't produce what I eat while still working, but I buy it to local farmers. No need to defend my home as I live in a civilized country (aka I don't need a gun to defend my home).

So, you can start driving 45 mph...

The US should subsidize. Most of the problem is that eco-ninnies (environmentalists) with the support of congress have put much of the federal land, and definitely the most promising land, off limits to mining and oil drilling.

These eco-freaks claim to want to have clean power and clean vehicles, but just try to build a wind power plant, or a solar array and they all come out of the woodwork to oppose those too. Just look at the Solar plants delayed in the Mohave desert, or the Wind farms in Massachusetts.

The congress just needs to get some balls and allow companies to look for resources despite the complaints of a few eco-freaks

Isn't the main reason Western production of rare earths has essentially stopped is that most of the ores are quite radioactive and extracting the rare earths leaves a great mess of radioactive tailings to deal with? Seems that the Chinese don't mind so much.

The British empire dealt with this problem in the 19th century when China refused to sell its tea. On the first two occasions it was found that the Chinese would quite happily barter in return for opium. On the third time, Peking was invaded and the Brits were given Hong Kong as well. I can't see this tactic won't work a fourth time.