RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Update from MarkMoulouk wrote: Thanks for the information!
Now I am pushing my luck a little bit with questions related to Ucore pre-MRT.
What is\are the reason(s) UCU looked for MRT? Was UCU’s project viable only with SX ? If it was viable, it should be equally viable in 2022, unless the circumstances changed.
If if it was not viable back then, what are the reasons justifying that it would be viable in 2020 (or 2022)?
Moulouk
Great questions Moulouk. But no short answer! :)
SX [Solvent Extraction] is the ONLY current and viable REE Separtion refinement in the world. But that is not to say that a new technology is not desired.
SX refinement is a far different process for REE's then say a copper/gold feed. Gold has far different properties from copper. And on the same token, ore containing zinc and nickel is fairly easily separated from each other. But REE's have very similar characteristics and difficult to find a circuit [method] to separate one from each other. The feed is always a REE concentrate at a purity of about 50% or 60%, and even separating the lights from the heavies is difficult. If one is successful with this stage, then they must go on to separate the same weights from each other. The number of circuits required depends upon the host ore containing the rare earths, and the type of impurities surrounding these REE's.
This is all done with acid and other harsh chemicals. Suffice to say.....this is a very dirty refining process. Thus the great difficult Lynas had in getting an operating permit in Malaysia. The environmentalists almost won the day there some years and canned the project. :) And thus the reason why REE Extraction in China works so well. For they have much weaker restrictions. They have much weaker restrictions, for they want the power that exclusive REE control bring to the country.
But getting back to numerous separation circuits.....you can imagine how cost senstivie this process starts to become. Operating Costs were not as sensitive after the huge REE price rally back in 2011. But subsequently, prices came back to reality and canned many 2011 REE start-ups....including Ucore. Even the great multi-billion dollar Moly Corp couldn't get it done. They had numerous problems with separation and as the prices continued to fall, they ended up un-economic and bankrupt. Even today with new owners, they still CANNOT separate economically and ship it off to China.
In a nutshell......this is why Ucore was so excited to find MRT. But let me be perfectly clear here....MRT is still unproven, at scale, for REE's! But nonetheless, from this moment forward, MacKenzie [CEO] started to knock down SX and build up MRT. It's quite ironic now to find him trying to reverse that narrative....without going to far. :) The potential merits of MRT is....it's cleaner; quicker; and more economical.
So why are they chasing SX again? Two reasons 1) that's the only possible solution currently with MRT tied up in court. And 2) this is what the US DOD wants.
Why does the DOD only want SX? Two reasons 1) they know this is what works! And 2) they don't have the time or patience to play around with dozens of tech wantabe's!
Are they [DOD] willing to sacrifice some enviormental conerns? Yes
Are they [DOD] going to end up in courts with enviormentalists? Yes, but they'll make it happen somehow.
Why? They have too!
Why? Time is ticking.
They have allowed themselves ten years to get this done. To find a consortium that can find the HREE solution to separate various types of secure HREE deposits. For sooner or later, the Chinese will be able to severely hang this REE power over the heads of the US Military. Many of their weapons and equipment are useless without HREE's. The problem with Ucore and many potential suppliers is.....the Military supply chain is not large enough to make it economical. Thus the commercial element must come into the fray also, complicating matters. For the US DOD will subsidize their needs, but not the commercial market. Many moving parts at play here.
I'll say it again....
- finding a nice rare earth deposit in friendly jurisdictions is NOT rare!
- processing rare earths into a concentrate feedstock is NOT rare!
- producing rare earth metals and allowys is NOT that are!
- producing rare earth magnets is NOT that rare!
- separating the full spectrum of rare earth oxides/salts is EXTREMELY rare!
:)