US awakens to rare earth mineral gap

[Klaralven]

The Trump administration has finally awakened to the frightening fact, that China controls 80% of America’s rare earth mineral supply — a disturbing reality that the Pentagon wants to end once and for all.

Rare earth elements are a group of 17 minerals critical to the defense industry’s manufacturing of missiles and munitions, hypersonic weapons and radiation-hardened electronics — as well as consumer electronics like cellphones.

A day prior to being airlifted to Walter Reed hospital, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency in the mining industry — an action aimed at boosting domestic production, Defense News online reported.

Trump also ordered his Cabinet secretaries to study the matter, with an eye toward government grants for production equipment, as well as tariffs, quotas or other import restrictions against China.

https://asiatimes.com/2020/10/us-acts-to-stop-dependence-on-chinas-rare-earth-minerals/

[applegrove]

1. 60 Minutes did a story on it more than a year ago.

[pecosbob]

2. This has only been a growing threat since like...semi-conductors were invented

We (America) typically encourage political instability or coup d'etat in this sort of situation (see recent Bolivian history as an example). But China isn't Iran or Bolivia. China is a tougher nut than the neo-cons can crack.

[Klaralven]

3. Long range electric cars need rare-earth magnets in their electric motors.

This has recently increased demand for rare-earths like neodymium.

[Amishman]

4. Rare earth minerals can either be extracted cheaply or cleanly

China is the world leader as they have been willing to accept the pollution from cheap extraction.

The extraction process revolves around using acids and other chemicals to leech the minerals from the rocks. This is either done with strip mining and then soaking in giant holding ponds, or just pumping the chemical mixture right into the earth.

The US, Russia, Brazil, and India all have deposits that are not being utilized.