And people complain about the Chinese goods at Wal-Mart…
The NY Times reports that the Chinese government has placed a trade embargo on all exports to Japan of a crucial category of minerals used in products like hybrid cars, wind turbines and guided missiles.
China mines 93 percent of the world’s rare earth minerals, and more than 99 percent of the world’s supply of some of the most prized rare earths, which sell for several hundred dollars a pound.
They also mine the vast majority of the world’s tungsten.
Guess what country was forced to switch its military ammunition from lead to tungsten by green activists complaining about lead in military target range backstops.
Guess what else? China processes a very large percentage of the world’s electronic waste, which is much richer in rare-earth metals and gold/silver than mined ore is.
Related, greenie activists tend to vanish unexpectedly in China, never to be seen again.
As things go … we may only get to re charge our electric cars when the wind blows the giant stinking fan blades … if that is the case … it might be a lot cheaper to simply built ‘sail cars’.
Ah yes, the infamous fruit fly doctor. Like a schoolyard pervert, opening his raincoat to expose his climate porn to the ignorant.
This washed-out hippie will garner no respect from me until the day he abandons his charity status, leaves the frequent flier (or is it frequent flake?) card at home and spreads his word of imminent climate doom in a vehicle a little more efficient than a Pratt and Whitney turbofan powered jumbo jet.
Flakes on a plane? No $hit.
This should be good news for Canada and Canada’s mining sector. It could even help our immigration dilemma. Go north, young Tamil!
Oops, wrong post…and I think wrong blog too!
Friday, I guess. Need. more. sleep.
Somebody should make sure Ontario’s Dolton McSquinty is aware of the impending paucity of rare earth metals. Lots of them are required in the manufacture of solar panels.
Well if you ever want to bring China’s fascist merchantilism back in tow all you have to do is reduce grain exports to China.
For such a sprawling self contained industrial giant wannabe they are woefully incapable of satisfying the basic food demands of their nation.
An achilles heel to keep in mind should the Chicoms ever get too ‘chippy’.
Rare earth metals depletion is good. Fossil fuel depletion is bad. Get it?
I would question the statistics on the % of rare earth minerals and prized metals that China mines. They do have the right to mine their own minerals on Chinese soils.
In any event, I know this. I used to pay between $200 to $300 for a good skill saw. Today I can buy the same “Made in China’ for $100, and it works like a charm.
Maybe the Chinese can build a four door sedan for $15,000. I’ll be the first buy one!
We should stand with Japan in all of this. We should cease trade with China, cut off exports to them and apply punitive measures to Western companies that use their slave labour. Did we forget how China exploits and harms not only their own people but the North Koreans and Tibetans? They have also made a deal with Mugabe to get blood diamonds.
Cut them off!
We should stay away from the Japan-China dispute and hope that the Obamanation isn’t tempted to take his eye away from his own economic problems lest ours gets screwed by his delusions of statesmanship.
Canada has RE’s too. There is a deposit east of Yellowknife that they are presently drilling and may be operational by 2014.
Nechalacho now ranking as the second largest rare earth elements deposit in the world (by reported TREO) and the third largest contained niobium deposit in the world. With Avalon’s Nechalacho deposit comprised of around 22.5% heavy rare earth elements, the average value per kilogram of the deposit is US$22.10. If we compare this with some of their peers, Baotou’s Baiyun Obo (http://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/6914/avalons-heavy-rare-earth-elements-offer-massive-competitive-advantage-6914.html
Occam’s Disposable Razor
That food power weapon was flexed covertly by back channels when OPEC’s oil embargo started to bite in ’68….. I heard the Soviets had kitty’s…..the “Achmed the aweful”s throughout the ME suddenly decided to play nice….
When US traders withdrew from the market…the CWB took the long position and withdrew too….
“When ya got’em by the shorts…their hearts and minds will follow……”
Silent Sam said : “Maybe the Chinese can build a four door sedan for $15,000. I’ll be the first buy one!”
Sure Sam. With what money? All your job are belong to Chicoms. Besides, you can already buy a Ford for $15,000.
You probably meant a Tata Nano for $2,000. They can make them cheap because there’s no regulations to conform to in India. Tata is a glorified quad bike with a body and four seats. They spontaneously combust, did you know that? Google “Tata fire”, there’s video.
My car purchase options were simple this year: Over priced Japanese, WAY over priced German, Ford, or two flavors of Government Motors. Fords are smokin’ cheap, so I got one.
Oh, geez. Does anyone seriously believe that the only place on earth where rare earth metals exist is China?
Question: Is there any other resource that China is singularly rich in?
Answer: No.
Question: Prior to their use in modern technological applications, was there any widespread use for rare earths?
Answer: No.
Is there any possibility that rare earths might be found in relatively abundant quantities?
Answer: Not proven, but highly likely, given the fact that no other mineral on earth has been localized to a single country.
There are Rare Earth Elements in Northern Saskatchewan too. There was going to be a mine opening if I’m not mistaken, however, the Chinese were very interested in purchasing the mine to continue their basic monopoly of RE. Anything the world needs in terms of mining, we got it here in Sask. If we’re smart, this province can be a super-economic force that would be unparalleled.
Some of the newer GM models have excellent milage ratings and the quality is right up there with Japan.
The new Malibu boasts 11 miles/liter yes …miles.
Who needs a hybrid?
Some new Buicks boast 15 miles/liter and the quality rivals Lexus or Mercedes, for far less.
Don’t give up on GM just yet, can’t wait to get in on the IPO.
sorry wrong thread..
Kevin B
In 1990 (according to Wikipedia) China undercut all other producers. They closed.
There are sources of RE in Canada (as was mentioned), in USA, Australia and somewhere else but to re-open (or open) the mines will take a few years.
For now, China has monopoly.
(btw don’t understand that nobody before realized the consequences of China monopoly, or ANY monopoly for that matter)