Thought i would add a little information about REE's as there is a little talk going on about them of late.
Here an info page of a TSX listed REE company, nice presentation to learn about the metals in question.
rare_earth_metal
Here is the Reuters Fact book on them
Interesting that china produces 90% of the worlds supplies.
TORONTO, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Rare earth elements are used in
a wide range of consumer products, from iPhones to electric car
motors.
Demand is growing, fueled by green technology. At the same
time, supplies are getting tight. China, which produces over 90
percent of the world's supply, has cut exports by almost half
this year.
A looming global shortage has pushed numerous Canadian
miners into the spotlight. Here are some facts on this elusive
group of 17 metals:
WHAT ARE RARE EARTHS?
Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium,
samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium,
erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium.
WHAT ARE RARE EARTHS USED IN?
Rechargeable batteries for electric and hybrid cars,
advanced ceramics, magnets for electric car motors, computers,
DVD players, wind turbines, catalysts in cars and oil
refineries, computer monitors, televisions, lighting, lasers,
fiber optics, glass polishing, superconductors, and weapons.
THE iPHONE CONNECTION
Rare earths make for smaller, lighter batteries and motors.
The drive to miniaturization was first popularized by the Sony
Walkman personal cassette tape player. Rare earths are now key
to making handheld devices like Apple's iPhone and Research In
Motion's BlackBerry.
BIGGEST CONSUMERS
China and Japan. Global demand is forecast to grow rapidly
as demand for green products increases.
BIGGEST PRODUCERS
China produces over 90 percent of global supplies. China
mined 120,000 tonnes in 2008, followed by India, which produced
2,700 tonnes, Brazil and Malaysia.
BIGGEST DEMAND
The demand for dysprosium, terbium, neodymium, praseodymium
and europium is set to grow by a minimum of 8 percent a year.
Electric vehicle demand for dysprosium, neodymium and
praseodymium is set to grow by an average of 790 percent in the
next five years.
BIGGEST MINES UNDER DEVELOPMENT, OUTSIDE CHINA
Great Western Minerals <GWG.V>, Steenkampskraal, South
Africa
Avalon Rare Metals <AVL.TO>, Nechalacho, Canada
Molycorp <MCP.N>, Mountain Pass, U.S.
Lynas Corp <LYC.AX> , Mount Weld, Australia
Arafura Resources <ARU.AX>, Nolans, Australia