Category Archives: Critical Materials

The Search Is On For Antimony Deposits In Atlantic Canada

The Search Is On For Antimony Deposits In Atlantic Canada
Keep a close eye on antimony which is used in batteries and in many manufactured materials as a flame retardant. China is the top producer with control of close to 90% of the world supply. China is followed by South Africa, Russia, Bolivia and Tajikistan which are far from mining friendly jurisdictions.The Chinese are finding it difficult to find new antimony deposits domestically. In 2011, the British Geological Survey ranked antimony as the main metal at risk of a supply shortfall. Production in China is falling and the Chinese have had to mine antimony right here in Atlantic Canada.
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Platinum Breaking Higher Versus Gold On Supply Shortfall

Platinum Breaking Higher Versus Gold On Supply Shortfall
Platinum is breaking out compared to gold as South Africa which supplied three quarters of world production continues to struggle with labor issues and possible nationalization.The world's largest producer of platinum, Anglo American Platinum (AMS), reported a major loss for 2012 and warned of a potential supply shortfall as labor protests and nationalization fears continue to increase. South Africa has become increasingly volatile and demand for platinum is picking up due to increased sales for new automobiles. A supply shortfall in platinum and potential price spike could happen in 2013 as a major deficit in PGM's could be developing.
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Uranium and Rare Earths Should Rebound On China Rally

Uranium and Rare Earths Should Rebound On China Rally
China recently during the quiet holiday season announced that they were tightening exports again on critical materials. Rare earth export quotas for next year will drop again. China claims that they are cutting back because of the weak global economy. Nevertheless, stealthily China continues to announce infrastructure plans within China and has been stockpiling these critical materials for their own domestic demand. For months, we have been predicting a rebound in China’s economy as iron ore prices began rising. Now we read headlines that China’s exports are very strong even with a rising yuan. Risk assets such as the miners and industrial metals should rally on this news. More smart money from the investment community is realizing that China is far from a hard landing but they may be in the midst of a powerful recovery. Exports have jumped to a seven month highs despite the debt issues in Europe and the United States. This rebound in China may be the spark in the undervalued miners which have been in a downtrend for close to two years as economists predicted a Chinese hard landing.
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Is The Critical Rare Earth Sector Making a Positive Turn?

Is The Critical Rare Earth Sector Making a Positive Turn?
I have just returned from the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference where I presented on the critical need for many different strategic metals. The rare earth sector is beginning to attract interest as the U.S., Chinese and Japanese markets hit new 52 week highs after the changes in leadership in both countries. The rare earth/strategic metals ETF (REMX) has crossed the 200 day for the first time since 2011 and I am monitoring for a bullish golden crossover.
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China Markets Breaking Out Into New Highs May Boost Commodities

China Markets Breaking Out Into New Highs May Boost Commodities
For months, we have been highlighting to our readers that China’s economy is beginning to pick up which could positively influence commodity prices. The fears of a slowdown were overblown. China's stock markets (FXI) have been rallying since early September because speculation is rising that the newly chosen Communist Party may boost the economy and is approaching a major 52 week high breakout.
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U.S. Department Of Defense Making Bold Move To Support Rare Earth Mining

U.S. Department Of Defense Making Bold Move To Support Rare Earth Mining
The U.S. Department of Defense has made a bold move to support a North American rare earth element project, and it's made waves in the market. In this exclusive interview with The Critical Metals Report, Jeb Handwerger, editor of Gold Stock Trades, explains what this means for investors and what companies may be the sector's next big success stories.
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Turnaround Rally In Heavy Rare Earths As U.S. Develops Independent Supply Chain

Turnaround Rally In Heavy Rare Earths As U.S. Develops Independent Supply Chain
Gold Stock Trades expects a turnaround rally in this wildly oversold resource area, which is still relatively unknown by the public crowd. There are developments that may be reversing the 18 month basing process and indeed trap the disbelievers. Included in these possibilities is the bearish sentiment that the less advanced rare earth companies have inadequate cash reserves needed to proceed with development. This interpretation may have been advocated actively by the larger cap Molycorp(MCP) and Lynas (LYSCF) who is deficient in the heavy rare earths. Subscribers are aware that we have been presenting one rare earth as one of our choice selections. The current breaking news vis a vis the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) vindicates our faith in the this story.
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Which Heavy Rare Earth Juniors Will Win The Race To Production?

Which Heavy Rare Earth Juniors Will Win The Race To Production?
Despite market malaise, the outlook for rare earth element demand is growing more and more compelling. China still controls a majority of the supply, but has been cautioning the world that even its reserves can't last forever. North America desperately needs to establish its own sources, but which juniors will be able to fill that need?
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Why This Alaska Heavy Rare Earth Mine Is Unique

Why This Alaska Heavy Rare Earth Mine Is Unique
Recent headlines inform us that the Obama Administration has finally decided to increase pressures on China in the rare earth quandary by joining Japan and the EU in the case before the World Trade Organization. This may be a move motivated by the upcoming national elections as well as the pressures placed upon the President to say something or anything in response to Romney’s support of Bokan Mountain (Ucore) where he wrote an open letter to Alaskans emphasizing that their state is in the vanguard of America reclaiming rare earth independence.
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Why Graphite Stocks May Continue To Outperform In 2012

Why Graphite Stocks May Continue To Outperform In 2012
Carbon wears many faces. It ranges in form from precious diamonds such as Elizabeth Taylor’s Hope Diamond to electrolytic anodes found in the new generation of batteries. The word graphite originates from the Greek meaning to write. Now we see that graphite isn’t just found in pencils anymore. Graphite is rapidly earning a new recognition as a component in the latest clean energy technologies such as the Lithium-Ion Battery, Fuel Cells, The Pebble Bed Nuclear Reactors and Vanadium-Redox Batteries critical for green energy, wind turbines and solar cells.
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