Posted on May 30, 2021
Exclusive: Biden looks abroad for electric vehicle metals, in blow to U.S. miners
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We can expand that mine in San Bernardino, California but the US government has only helped a little bit but POTUS desires to look abroad for rare earth metals.
Why can't we mine our own rare earth minerals the USA? It is another example of 'not in my backyard'. Some Progressive leaders in the USA would prefer to buy oil from Vladivostok, Russia pollute the Pacific shipping it the USA than buy it from Canada( Washington state does this and I'm sure a couple others do as well) so nothing surprises me nowadays.
Updated 31 MAY 21.
1. The metals used for building anything with rechargeable batteries mean that the ore is too dangerous to process in the USA. It is a carcinogen, a mutagen or toxic to humans or all 3.
2. This makes it no different than Nuclear Energy or using Coal or oil. The irony is that our regulations prohibit it from being processed in the USA and China or some other country with little or no regulations will mine it and process it for its eventual use here.
4. Our logistical lines of communication can be held hostage by China.
5. Sticking with Fossil fuels looks like a better alternative.
6. Hydrogen car technology is also questionable since Hydrogen is in short supply as well. What a conundrum!
Why can't we mine our own rare earth minerals the USA? It is another example of 'not in my backyard'. Some Progressive leaders in the USA would prefer to buy oil from Vladivostok, Russia pollute the Pacific shipping it the USA than buy it from Canada( Washington state does this and I'm sure a couple others do as well) so nothing surprises me nowadays.
Updated 31 MAY 21.
1. The metals used for building anything with rechargeable batteries mean that the ore is too dangerous to process in the USA. It is a carcinogen, a mutagen or toxic to humans or all 3.
2. This makes it no different than Nuclear Energy or using Coal or oil. The irony is that our regulations prohibit it from being processed in the USA and China or some other country with little or no regulations will mine it and process it for its eventual use here.
4. Our logistical lines of communication can be held hostage by China.
5. Sticking with Fossil fuels looks like a better alternative.
6. Hydrogen car technology is also questionable since Hydrogen is in short supply as well. What a conundrum!
Exclusive: Biden looks abroad for electric vehicle metals, in blow to U.S. miners
Posted from reuters.comPosted in these groups: 
Energy
Mining and Metals
Office of the President (POTUS)
Common sense
Future
Energy Mining and Metals Office of the President (POTUS) Common sense Future
Edited 3 y ago
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 4
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We had rare earth mines here in the US. In fact at one time we were the largest producer of rare earth minerals in the world, but environmental rules and Chinese competition cut it off at the knees. Right now, the materials from the largest mine are being sent to China for processing.
We actually have the raw materials to be 100 self sufficient in copper, nickel, cobalt, and rare-earth minerals, but until and unless the environmental interests realize that their "green dream" requires letting us mine and process those materials ... Some are beginning to wake up to the need and the danger of being dependent on China for anything, but the environmentalists and regulatory agencies stand in the way.
We actually have the raw materials to be 100 self sufficient in copper, nickel, cobalt, and rare-earth minerals, but until and unless the environmental interests realize that their "green dream" requires letting us mine and process those materials ... Some are beginning to wake up to the need and the danger of being dependent on China for anything, but the environmentalists and regulatory agencies stand in the way.
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LTC (Join to see)
Please explain the processing that we cannot do ourselves? The Mountain Pass mine story mentions the same thing that they process the ore in China. I was listening to conservative TV and they talk about child labour being used in Africa to extract these Rare Earth minerals and how it causes catastrophic health problems and cancer and people who extract them. Is this true? Is this why you think this Administration or the Environmental people prefer it be done in other countries that have other people get exposed to set up us using proper safety precautions?
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PO1 Kevin Dougherty
Exactly, the environmental rules are strict here, so they take it overseas where the rules are less strict. The company that originally owned Mountain Pass went under because they could not compete against the stuff coming in from China. We are seeing pretty much the same thing with the batteries. They can not be easily recycled, it is somewhat dangerous, as lithium batteries can explode during disassembly, and hazardous waste is generated, so they get shipped to third world countries where they don't give a crap.
Yes, it is true about the children in Congo, but not rare earths, cobalt, which is pretty nasty stuff, with respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and skin toxicity. If that does not get you, it's also a strong carcinogen and mutagen so it's likely to get the next generation too. There is a pretty good article here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/batteries/congo-cobalt-mining-for-lithium-ion-battery/
Yes, it is true about the children in Congo, but not rare earths, cobalt, which is pretty nasty stuff, with respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and skin toxicity. If that does not get you, it's also a strong carcinogen and mutagen so it's likely to get the next generation too. There is a pretty good article here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/batteries/congo-cobalt-mining-for-lithium-ion-battery/
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Revenge of the Miners: Green Energy Meets Natural Resources -- Live with Warren Irwin (w/Max...
Warren Irwin, president and CIO of Rosseau Asset Management and one of the most successful natural resources investors of the past few decades, joins Real Vi...
Thank you my friend LTC (Join to see) posting the unsurprising news that POTUS Biden is looking overseas for electrical vehicle and other green energy products since rare metals required are primarily in China [source and processing capability] and Africa to a lesser extent.
It is noteworthy that rare earth metals are plentiful yet widely dispersed across the surface of the earth.
It is sad that we don't process our own rare metals in this nation. It seems ludicrous since the green energy products require rare metals :-(
Revenge of the Miners: Green Energy Meets Natural Resources -- Live with Warren Irwin (w/Max Wiethe)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81y2AKrAznU
FYI Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. LTC (Join to see) COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SSG Franklin BriantSPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D TSgt David L. SGT James Murphy 1SG Steven ImermanSPC Michael Terrell SPC Michael Oles SRSgt (Join to see) SGT Randal Groover SSG Samuel Kermon PO3 Phyllis Maynard MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. ] CSM Chuck Stafford
It is noteworthy that rare earth metals are plentiful yet widely dispersed across the surface of the earth.
It is sad that we don't process our own rare metals in this nation. It seems ludicrous since the green energy products require rare metals :-(
Revenge of the Miners: Green Energy Meets Natural Resources -- Live with Warren Irwin (w/Max Wiethe)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81y2AKrAznU
FYI Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. LTC (Join to see) COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SSG Franklin BriantSPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D TSgt David L. SGT James Murphy 1SG Steven ImermanSPC Michael Terrell SPC Michael Oles SRSgt (Join to see) SGT Randal Groover SSG Samuel Kermon PO3 Phyllis Maynard MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. ] CSM Chuck Stafford
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LTC Stephen F.
Why China's control of rare earths matters | FT
China dominates the world's production and supply of rare earths - obscure elements that are vital for high tech manufacturing. The FT's Jamie Smyth explains...
Why China's control of rare earths matters | FT
China dominates the world's production and supply of rare earths - obscure elements that are vital for high tech manufacturing. The FT's Jamie Smyth explains why this matters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyH_PvLZoD0
FYI PO3 Charles StreichCSM Bruce TregoSP5 Geoffrey VannersonGySgt Thomas VickSFC (Join to see)SFC (Join to see)SPC Randy ZimmermanCpl Robert Russell PayneLT Brad McInnis CPL Cadrew StricklandSSG Michael Noll Cpl Vic Burk SGT Steve McFarland SGT Randal Groover SFC Chuck Martinez MSgt James Clark-Rosa SSG William Jones Wayne Soares PVT Mark Zehner
China dominates the world's production and supply of rare earths - obscure elements that are vital for high tech manufacturing. The FT's Jamie Smyth explains why this matters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyH_PvLZoD0
FYI PO3 Charles StreichCSM Bruce TregoSP5 Geoffrey VannersonGySgt Thomas VickSFC (Join to see)SFC (Join to see)SPC Randy ZimmermanCpl Robert Russell PayneLT Brad McInnis CPL Cadrew StricklandSSG Michael Noll Cpl Vic Burk SGT Steve McFarland SGT Randal Groover SFC Chuck Martinez MSgt James Clark-Rosa SSG William Jones Wayne Soares PVT Mark Zehner
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PLACATING LABOR
Biden's approach comes with risks, including angering political supporters within the labor movement who want the administration to have an openness to resource extraction and the attendant jobs.
"Let's let Americans extract these minerals from the earth," said Aaron Butler of United Association Local 469 union, which does work for Rio Tinto Ltd's (RIO.AX) proposed Resolution copper mine project in Arizona and endorsed Biden in the elections. "These are good-paying jobs."
Many of the skills that labor unions would use to build mines, including concrete and electrical work, can also be used to build EV metal processing plants.
The National Mining Association, an industry trade group, has been lobbying the White House and Congress to support domestic projects, arguing that the coronavirus pandemic showed the importance of localizing supply chains.
Biden's approach comes with risks, including angering political supporters within the labor movement who want the administration to have an openness to resource extraction and the attendant jobs.
"Let's let Americans extract these minerals from the earth," said Aaron Butler of United Association Local 469 union, which does work for Rio Tinto Ltd's (RIO.AX) proposed Resolution copper mine project in Arizona and endorsed Biden in the elections. "These are good-paying jobs."
Many of the skills that labor unions would use to build mines, including concrete and electrical work, can also be used to build EV metal processing plants.
The National Mining Association, an industry trade group, has been lobbying the White House and Congress to support domestic projects, arguing that the coronavirus pandemic showed the importance of localizing supply chains.
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PO1 Kevin Dougherty
While true, both are needed. As it stands now, we are completely dependent upon Chine for our EV metals. Unless and until we have both mines and processing plants, we will continue to be.
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