from right here at Stockhouse:
Rare-er Earth? Try "Antimony"!
There's a buzz swirling amongst those who subscribe to a certain newsletter chaired and published by a certain you-know-who. Perhaps he's the "original rare earth bug", but what I enjoy about this fellow's writings is his subtle hints that few catch. One such buzz from a recent back up the truck call on Rare Earths was the suggestion that Antimony Metal, yet another strategic metal hoarded by China is something that needs to be bought. Problem is, the suggestion is that there are no North American vehicles in which to invest in Antimony Metals. This being the case, this infers that should there be any vehicle (stock) to invest in which was a significant Antimony target, they would literally have no competition! Sounds like a set-up, does it not?
As you've probably guessed, I believe I've found what is not only the best, highest grade potential, massive target Antimony stock in Canada, it also happens to be on strike with the only Antimony producing mine in the western hemisphere - and that producing mine is owned by China! Before I present my findings, here's a little ditty on this unknown metal (who's price has climbed above $10,000 tonne, aka ~$5 pound):
Antimony on the Hit List
by stuart on September 17, 2010
Traders and consumers are scurrying around for supplies in the antimony market following yet another clamp down by the authorities in Beijing on illegal mining operations in China according to a Reuters report. China produces 90% of the world’s antimony as this graph taken from USGS data illustrates:
When there is any hiccup in supplies from China the rest of the world holds its breath. It is not an exaggeration to say that without China there is almost no antimony supply. When Beijing began to enforce it’s drive to cull illegal dangerous and polluting mining operations, producers thought it would go the same way as many other such edicts from the center with local officials turning a blind eye to continued operation. Although a direct link to cancer and heart failure has not been irrefutably proved it is known that prolonged exposure, such as that experienced by communities living and working in areas where the soil, air and water supply is heavily contaminated are at risk of lung diseases, heart problems and stomach ulcers if not cancer itself. One such area is the wasteland that is Lengshuijiang, in a remote area of mountainous Hunan province and home to China’s antimony mining and refining industry. Officials have closed over 100 illegal mines and processing facilities, leaving only two large processors still functioning. A handful of other facilities could reopen once they comply with environmental regulations a Financial Times article says but the rest will remain permanently closed. Unusually there has been full compliance from local politicians and civil authorities; may be because the area suffers high rates of lung cancer and everyone is facing up to the fact that something has to be done about it. Or it could be that following the execution of a couple of local government officials who took bribes from illegal mines in another Hunan city and a Lengshuijiang mine accident in which 26 miners died, persuaded miners and officials that Beijing was serious. Lengshuijiang has been declared one of 44 cities that are “natural resource exhausted cities” and special action is being taken to tackle the problem.
Meanwhile exports have dropped and supplies are getting tight. Prices have risen 150% since January 2009 to nearly $11,000 per metric ton and are expected to rise further. It’s not that antimony’s uses as a fire retardant and alloying additive to lead are irreplaceable but the industry is well established in using antimony in these applications. A prolonged bout of high prices though will almost certainly result in some demand destruction as alternative products substitute for the metal. May be that would be no bad thing for the inhabitants of Lengshuijiang. A smaller, more environmentally conscientious industry would see a significant improvement in longevity for those that have to work and live to supply the world with this minor but crucial metal.
===================================================================================
www.mountain-lake.com
MOA.V
Here's a quote from the company website. I will let you all study Antimony, and gain understanding of what this company has right under its nose. Similar to the Quest Uranium/Quest rare earth story, these guys seemingly don't even know that they have what I believe could be one of the largest high grade Antimony (up to 50% Sb) deposits in the world....and I'm buying it well ahead of the heard...
QUOTE:
"Field work got under way this year in June and has focused on examining the areas of the Little River Property (the "Property") outside of the 2009/2008 soil sampling grid as well as more detailed soil sampling within the existing grid area where initial line spacing was at 200 metre intervals. Results have been received from the infill soil sampling and many new gold anomalies have been identified in addition to the delineation of several strong multiline anomalies where only single point anomalies existed before. Preparations are underway for trenching and sampling to prioritize targets for a fall drill program.
Most significant this year, is the sourcing of a historical antimony + gold (Sb+Au) vein that was originally discovered in the late 1970s by Hudson's Bay Oil and Gas Company. Analytical results from the initial bedrock samples taken from the vein prospect returned 34.9% Sb with 24.1 g/t Au and 27.6% Sb with 7.1 g/t Au. The vein is up to 30 centimetres wide and has been exposed by a series of hand dug pits over a 40 metre strike length (see photo right). Results from subsequent bedrock samples taken from various spots along the exposed vein have returned very high grade antimony with lower grade gold including: 50% Sb with 219 ppb Au; 49.6% Sb with 483 ppb Au; 49.0% Sb with 110 ppb Au; 36.5% Sb with 118 ppb Au (see sample photo right). Further results are pending from detailed soil sampling, which has now been carried out for 300 metres in both directions along strike from the vein outcrop. The vein prospect has never been drill tested.
According to one of Mountain Lake’s prospectors, who worked for Noranda on the Beaver Brook property when antimony (stibnite) mineralization was discovered in 1989, the vein at Little River is significantly larger than the vein that was initially discovered on the Beaver Brook property ~150 km to the north. That discovery resulted in extensive exploration and development and the Beaver Brook antimony mine being brought into production in 1998. Beaver Brook is one of the largest antimony deposits in the world, the only primary producing antimony mine in Canada or the United States, and the largest outside of China."
"Bedrock samples return grades up to 50% antimony and 24.1 g/t gold at Mountain Lake’s Little River Property, Southern Newfoundland"