Posted on 07/08/2017 3:52:14 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The proposed rare metals mine in southeast Nebraska would produce $17.6 billion over its lifetime.
That's the conclusion of a feasibility study released by NioCorp Investments Ltd., the company hoping to make the mine a reality.
NioCorp has been working on the feasibility study for the proposed mine near Elk Creek in Johnson County for more than three years.....
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I live one county to the west of there, and they’ve been talking about this thing for forever.
Yep, I even bought some of their stock after the last “bombshell”. The reason rare earths are called that isn’t because they are rare, it’s because they usually turn up together and are very difficult to separate. The Elm Creek site has niobium in such concentration that it may be easier to refine, and is the largest/only such mine in the US.
Thought it was a rock group.
There was a mine in California, but it was shut down by “environmentalists”.
Molycorp is no more plus the deposit has been marginal.
Hurry up and start digging, Nebraska !
This would give another card for Pres. Trump to play in the almost fruitless diplomacy with China concerning North Korea.
Leni
Oh, but do they have Unobtainium?/.s
I worked at MolyCorp for a couple weeks in 1974 (field service engineering). I’ve never had a 90 mile commute before or since that job. LV was the closest place to stay (or, at least a place where you’d want to stay). I still remember meeting Lana in LV...
Somehow I can’t see a rare earth mine in Nebraska. Rare Earth Elememts seem to always be in arid or desert locations.
Coal was commercially mined in Missouri. Can’t think of any mines in Nebraska...just corn.
Coal was commercially mined by black workers brought in for that purpose in Southern Iowa. Opera star Simon Estes is descended from them.
I lived not far from there, in Johnson County, in Sterling, Nebraska, 1992-1996. That area could use the jobs and the boost to the economy.
https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mineral-resources/ree.html
More:
http://netnebraska.org/article/news/971924/elk-creek-niobium-mine-could-be-operational-late-2016
You will be vindicated to know that the mine is on a farm, and there is corn (or at least was when this test hole was being drilled!
If I were that farmer, I would get me a very good contract lawyer. He is about to become a multi millionaire if he watches his P’s and q’s.
IF he has the mineral rights...
I’m not sure whether there still is coal mining in Iowa. But 30 some years ago I know the U of IA was required by the legislature to burn at least some Iowa origin coal in its generating plant so there must have still been some then. My great-grandfather got a job as company doctor at an Iowa coal mine right out of med school and was the only doctor on the scene, credited with saving multiple lives, when the worst coal mine disaster in Iowa history struck a bit over 110 years ago. That closed the mine and that wiped the town from Iowa’s map so he moved to the county seat and started his own practice. He lived long enough to meet me and practiced long enough that I’ve had the joy having had a few of his patients as my own.
I took a promotional transfer to Centerville to work for the unemployment office instead of guarding planes at the Des Moines Air Guard base.
Most likely not, but it is his property and if he plays it right, he can lease the use of that land to the mining company.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.