The_Gman
14 hours ago
MS/NioCorp get a quick mention in this in-depth article on REEs
US-China rare earths deal, and more DoD money will not loosen China’s grip on military-grade rare earth magnets
Richard Mills June 18th, 2025
https://aheadoftheherd.com/us-china-rare-earths-deal-and-more-dod-money-will-not-loosen-chinas-grip-on-military-grade-rare-earth-magnets-richard-mills/
Mark Smith, the former boss of Molycorp, which ran the Mountain Pass mine before it went bankrupt and was bought by MP Materials, says Western nations will take years to develop enough rare earth processing capacity to limit China’s dominance over them. The current CEO of NioCorp Developments is developing a new mine in Nebraska that could produce rare earth elements, but notes that even with approved mines, production would start in 2029 at the earliest.
No firm outside of China can yet produce significant quantities of the terbium, dysprosium or samarium limited by Beijing and necessary for magnets to endure high operating temperatures.
The_Gman
2 days ago
China’s Death Grip on Rare Earth Minerals: Regulatory Hurdles, U.S. Processing Efforts, Trump Administration Gains, and Investor Opportunities
June 17, 2025 Clark Savage
https://energynewsbeat.co/chinas-death-grip-on-rare-earth-minerals-regulatory-hurdles-u-s-processing-efforts-trump-administration-gains-and-investor-opportunities/
Key U.S. Critical and Rare Earth Mineral Processing Efforts
Despite challenges, the U.S. is making strides in developing domestic capabilities:
Mountain Pass Mine (MP Materials): The only operational U.S. rare earth mine, located in California, produces light REEs like neodymium and praseodymium. MP Materials is expanding into processing and magnet production, with a Fort Worth, Texas, facility set to produce 1,000 tons of neodymium-iron-boron magnets annually by late 2025. However, this is a fraction of China’s 138,000-ton capacity.
USA Rare Earth: In January 2025, USA Rare Earth produced a 99.1% pure dysprosium oxide sample from its Round Top deposit in Texas, a milestone for heavy REE processing. Commercial-scale production remains years away.
NioCorp Developments: NioCorp’s Nebraska project aims to mine and process rare earths, but financing remains a hurdle. The company’s stock fell 8.1% after China’s export curbs, reflecting investor concerns about short-term viability.
Biomining Innovations: Startups are exploring eco-friendly processing methods, such as biomining with microorganisms, backed by National Science Foundation grants. These technologies are promising but not yet scalable.
The Department of Defense (DOD) has invested over $439 million since 2020 to build a “mine-to-magnet” supply chain, targeting self-sufficiency by 2027. However, experts warn this goal is ambitious given current limitations.
What Investors Should Look For
Investors eyeing the rare earth sector should focus on companies with strong fundamentals, government backing, and clear paths to production. Key considerations include:
Government Support: Companies receiving DOD or DPA funding, like MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earths, are safer bets. MP Materials, for instance, secured $9.6 million in 2020 and $35 million in 2022 for its Mountain Pass and Fort Worth facilities. Look for firms tied to Executive Order 14241 or similar initiatives.
Vertical Integration: Companies building end-to-end supply chains—mining, processing, and magnet production—are more resilient. MP Materials’ move into magnet manufacturing and USA Rare Earth’s processing advancements are examples.
Proven Resources: Firms with high-grade deposits, like USA Rare Earth’s Round Top or NioCorp’s Nebraska project, offer long-term potential. However, verify financing and permitting progress to avoid overhyped projects.
Partnerships with End Users: Companies with offtake agreements, such as MP Materials’ deal with General Motors, reduce market risk. These partnerships signal demand and revenue stability.
Innovation Edge: Startups developing eco-friendly processing, like biomining firms, could attract venture capital but carry higher risk due to unproven scalability.
Top Picks:
MP Materials ($MP): As the only major U.S. producer, MP benefits from government support and a clear expansion plan. Its stock surged after China’s export curbs, and analysts see upside as domestic magnet production ramps up.
USA Rare Earth: Its dysprosium oxide breakthrough and Texas focus make it a speculative but promising play for heavy REEs.
NioCorp Developments ($NB): Riskier due to financing challenges, but its Nebraska project could yield significant returns if fully funded.
Investors should be cautious of volatility. China’s ability to manipulate prices and export licenses can depress global markets, as seen in stock fluctuations for NioCorp and others. Diversifying across companies with different risk profiles and monitoring policy changes are critical.
The_Gman
2 days ago
Challenges in Reducing China's Dominance in Rare Earth Elements
July 17, 2025
https://www.indexbox.io/blog/challenges-in-reducing-chinas-dominance-in-rare-earth-elements/
Efforts to diminish China's stronghold over the rare earth elements market are expected to take several years, according to industry expert Mark Smith. Smith, a former Molycorp Inc. CEO, highlighted the challenges Western nations face in developing sufficient rare earth processing capacities.
China's recent tightening of rare earth exports, a response to escalating tariffs from the US, has left key buyers scrambling for alternatives. The US administration is now invoking Cold War-era strategies to fund and prioritize strategic rare earth mining projects. Smith, currently leading NioCorp Developments Ltd., is spearheading a new mining venture in Nebraska aimed at producing rare earth elements like terbium and dysprosium, which have come under Chinese export controls.
NioCorp, listed on Nasdaq, has secured necessary environmental permits and is seeking financial support from the US Department of Defense and international banks to commence the mine's construction, expected to begin later this year. The project anticipates production by 2029, illustrating the lengthy timeline required even for approved mining operations.
Smith underscores the importance of past lessons, noting Japan's proactive measures in 2010 to reduce dependence on China by investing in Lynas Rare Earths Ltd., a move that now fulfills about 30% of Japan's rare earth needs. Meanwhile, the US is revisiting its strategy to bolster domestic suppliers after previous price crashes made Chinese exports more attractive.
Despite some progress, no non-Chinese entities currently produce significant quantities of certain critical elements like terbium, dysprosium, or samarium. The refining and processing capabilities remain largely centralized in China, presenting ongoing challenges for Western nations seeking to establish a more self-reliant supply chain. Please mention the Source: https://www.indexbox.io/blog/challenges-in-reducing-chinas-dominance-in-rare-earth-elements/
The_Gman
2 days ago
China’s Rare Earth Mineral Monopoly: Global Supply Chain Crisis
By John Zadeh on June 17, 2025
https://discoveryalert.com.au/news/rare-earth-minerals-strategic-applications-2025/
Which Projects Represent the Future of Western Rare Earth Production?
Several promising projects are under development to counter Chinese dominance in rare earth production. These initiatives offer potential pathways toward greater supply security.
NioCorp's Nebraska Project
Location: Nebraska, USA
Key elements: Terbium, dysprosium, scandium, niobium, and titanium
Development status: All environmental permits secured
Timeline: Construction potentially starting late 2025, with production by 2029
Funding sources: Seeking Department of Defense grants and a $225 million Export-Import Bank loan
"We need to start building facilities onshore that do the entire supply chain," Smith emphasized. "It's not just about mining—it's about processing and manufacturing finished components."
The_Gman
2 days ago
China Just Cut Off These Rare Metals. The U.S. Has No Backup Plan--Yet.
Beijing tightens its grip on critical resources. One CEO says America's race to catch up is already years behind.
Khac Phu Nguyen 22 hours ago
https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2931575/china-just-cut-off-these-rare-metals-the-us-has-no-backup-planyet
China just played its rare earth card again—and this time, the West may not have a safety net. In April, Beijing ramped up export restrictions on seven rare earth metals, tightening its hold over elements essential for advanced magnets, electric vehicles, and defense systems. It's a familiar playbook. But according to Mark Smith, former Molycorp CEO and now head of NioCorp (NB, Financial), this round feels different. Buyers were unprepared, and Washington is now scrambling to respond—dusting off Cold War-era tools to back strategic mineral projects. “It's a wake-up call,” Smith said, one the U.S. arguably should've answered years ago. His point: America has resources—but almost no infrastructure to process them.
Smith is betting that can change. NioCorp's Nebraska project aims to extract terbium, dysprosium, and scandium—metals now under China's control. With all key environmental permits secured, the company is seeking funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and export banks in the U.S., UK, and Germany. If support comes through, construction could start later this year. Still, even under ideal conditions, production won't begin until 2029 at the earliest. Smith says that's the reality for nearly every new mine: years of waiting, litigation, and delays. “We have all of our permits in hand to start construction today,” he noted, underscoring how rare that is in today's U.S. permitting landscape.
There are glimmers of hope. Australia's Lynas and U.S.-based MP Materials (MP, Financial) have made dents in China's dominance, with Lynas now supplying around 30% of Japan's rare earth needs. But Beijing still commands nearly all global refining capacity and dominates supply of high-temperature metals like samarium and terbium. Smith believes that's why neodymium and praseodymium—elements MP and Lynas can produce—weren't restricted. But for the rest? “No one outside China can yet produce them in volume,” he said. Unless the U.S. and its allies step up fast, the supply chain could remain one crisis away from collapse.
ColdDarkHole
3 days ago
Wow he did get a chunk of that one. Time magazine even. He has been getting a lot of press. I hope his words carry weight with people that matter. This is the guy that had to dive out of molycorp, then said in 2016 how appealing the elk creek resource is to banks and investors followed by zero meaningful investment, then only to culminate into a desperate straw grab SPAC 7 years later that almost threw dirt on the coffin.
Lucky for him a single lunatic politician rattled China enough to create an ongoing narrative, because that is the ONLY root cause reason we are here in this situation right now.
Between IBC and NB, It just hasn't been his decade. He did have a nice moment at Largo. Failure pays well. I hope things turn around for him, because that means things turn around for us too.
NorCalTommy
3 days ago
Chico- great summary...... we need to see that Red shovel fosho..... hopefully the celophane on the shovel hasn't fosssilized or calcified by now! :) Hopefully that 'pending FS' will trigger some offtakes, should be an exciting next 6 months..... agree.... if not now, when??? NioCorp is in the Catbird seat (aka 'Flagship Mine') and you just know that CCP is going to use the REE/Mineral embargo leverage every damn chance they get, they are buying strategic assets, developing islands in the South China Sea, extorting the world on Rare Earths, stealing US IP to the tune of ~$600B/Yr., tried to take over the US built/financed panama canal, stealing our technology every chance they get and giving us the finger and the BOHICA all the time............... but hey.... Nothing to see here!!! hahaha Trump is now, through emergency declarations and EO's, treating this situation with the urgency it warrants..... and NB is in the right place at the right time!! Again, there is literally NO WAY to F this up..... the tailwinds and the geopolitical configuration and Rare Earth planets are perfectly aligned to make this thing fly...... LFG NB.... Convert from the 10 yard line ........ No MORE fumbles or bumbles or stumbles......
Yaddddda-
NCT (thanks again Chico for the enlightening financial work-up..... very viable indeeeeeed!!)
chico237
3 days ago
I agree entirely NorCal. GXII b.s. hurt all & management surely knows this. Yet other plans e,f, g… are in play. I hope management now moves forward without too much dilution of shares. Looking for off take agreements as Jim stated ( next few months?). The DoD taking a position in Scandium & Titanium tickle would give credibility to their plans of all ongoing vertical integrations. So would an anchor investor taking an equity stake for a premium $5/share (150$ M -30 million shares) someone’s gotta be first!!!
Then finish the drilling ( August), the F.S. (Nov.)& bring on EXIM, DoE/Lpo or others to finish. Wanna see red shovel June 2026 G.B! Or bust. (Do or Do not time)
“If not now when, & if not Niocorp… who else is permitted & ready??”
Front row seats my friend!
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