Posted on 08/02/2011 5:57:55 PM PDT by jazusamo
Elk Creek, Neb. (population 112), may not be so tiny much longer. Reports suggest that the southeastern Nebraska hamlet may be sitting on the world’s largest untapped deposit of “rare earth” minerals, which have proved to be indispensable to a slew of high-tech and military applications such as laser pointers, stadium lighting, electric car batteries and sophisticated missile-guidance systems.
Canada-based Quantum Rare Earths Developments Corp. last week received preliminary results from test drilling in the area, showing “significant” proportions of “rare earth” minerals and niobium.
The only people more excited than Quantum? The residents of Elk Creek, where nearly one in seven people live under the poverty line, but whose economy has been booming ever since the company showed up late last year to start laying the groundwork for a possible mining bonanza.
“It’s been a very, very positive experience for our community,” said state Sen. Lavon Heidemann, an Elk Creek farmer. “When Quantum came in here, they put money in the local community. And any time you have money flowing in a small town, that’s a positive.”
The potential mining operation, the first in the U.S. in a decade, could have an international impact as well. U.S. officials and lawmakers in Congress have been eager to break the near monopoly on global production of the 17 rare-earth elements in China, which has shown its willingness to use its power in the market for political ends.
Quantum acquired a circular piece of land - a bit more than 4 miles in diameter - near Elk Creek late last year. The land, which the U.S. Geological Survey projects may have one of the world’s largest deposits of niobium and rare earths, has since been poked, prodded and drilled to determine whether it held any niobium, which has never been mined...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Wow. I’ve got a couple of Rare Earth albums. They’re probably worth millions now huh?
No, that is okay.
I never want to disparage the “hardworking” folks. And I don’t want to come across as a snob.
We stayed in Lincoln — the hotel tried some shenanigans, lots of pot holes in downtown streets, and the massage parlor across from the sub sandwich place. All in one overnight stay.
I know what you mean - I’d hate it too if a town supplied me with a sub-par massage parlor experience.
Lol.
BIL is a “That”? Poor BIL. He’s just a thang.
“The only people more excited than Quantum?”
I’m excited!
I'll bet you own stock. :-)
won't bet much though.:)
Elk Creek Water recipe ingredients:
1/2 gallon Everclear® alcohol,
1/2 gallon vodka,
1/2 gallon gin,
4 liters Mountain Dew® citrus soda,
4 liters 7-Up® soda,
4 liters Squirt® citrus soda
Dang! I’d substitute a cup of vermouth for the Mountain Dew, 7-Up and Squirt.
Keep in freezer and have one shot glass full per evening to keep the hitch out of my get-a-long. ;-)
Man we were just talking about Elk Creek Water the other night and I was trying to remember the recipe. My buddies and I mixed up a batch of that stuff in college one spring semester back in the glorious 80’s when the weather was warm. Lots of shenanigans that night on the campus of Dear Old Nebraka U. I will just say that everyone needed to swim in Broyhill Fountain in their underwear at least once.....
To those bagging on Lincoln, keep in mind that Nebraska has the second lowest unemploment rate in the country and that Omaha is often in the top 5 cities in the nation for doing business, being the headquarters for more Fortune 500 companies than Los Angeles. Just don’t tell the liberals cuz we have a good thing going on quietly here. Of course the weather sucks most of the time and we dont have any oceans or mountains so I guess we are safe for now.
Of course the rich libs are ready to profit from it once the government mandates it. Algore is set to become a billionaire off of Cap and Trade, and Nancy Pelosi is heavily invested in T. Boone Pickins windmill schemes. And the Sierra Club didn't object to building CSU Merced over their preceious "vernal pools" once it was announced that a big new "enviromental studies" departments would be included.
:)
We used to cal anyhting with alcohol in it Elk Creek Water. LOL
Basically, in Elk Creek, that’s all there is to drink anyway.
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