China Halts Shipments to U.S. of Tech-Crucial Minerals

http://www.livescience.com/technology/etc/101019-china-halts-shipments-tech-crucial-minerals.html

They control 97% of rare earth production. Apparently a trade dispute with US made them do it. Rather shortsighted - retaliation in that sense is something all countries could (foolishly) implement, and where would that leave us ?
( Reminds me of the 'race' to lower interest rates. )

 

For one thing, this stuff isn't a never-ending supply. One day, we will run out, and there won't be more for a long, long, long time. Even without the dispute, I'd stockpile it for my own country first too. However, more on topic, this should be a humbling experience, 97%, 97% of what the U.S needs for critical technologies, is under the control of China. That's NOT good for the U.S or other countries. It's the same as oil, as long as the U.S relies so much on others for supplies, we're essentially slaves.

 

@ Ocky

Thanks for posting

*

Many loudspeakers, especially high power pro ones, have been using neodymium magnets for some time now. It's a LOT lighter/smaller for the same magnetic strength as traditional ceramic magnets, but costs a lot more.

For those that might be interested in such things, here's a good example of why nd is highly regarded. Two 1000 watt RMS speakers from the same company, but one has an nd magnet & the other an fe one. The nd one is almost half the weight



Even if in the meantime we might be held to ransom Expect the price of nd and other rare earth materials to sky rocket unless they sort this mess out very soon !

Here's some good news

 

Time, especially money, seems to be something the U.S (at least for things that would actually benefit the country) isn't willing to use. Well, that and we wouldn't want to upset our best friends at the U.N by not letting other countries walk all over us financially.

 

Yep, Neo's have 3x the Teslas of Fe magnets, helping to make things smaller, like HDD for one.

The US will start clearing the path to mining for it now that they have been cut off while they attempt to woo China to get their supply back.

This is the symptom of things to come probably.

 

I expect you mean the nd one.

 

Yes indeed, thanks for the heads up my oops

 

Germany extremely disgruntled about this. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/business/energy-environment/22iht-rare.html?_r=1

 

This artificial shortage will most likely raise the market price of current rare earth products.
Downstream manufacturers will raise prices on already built unsold units, gouging the public.
This is more likely a price fixing scheme on a large scale.
Some recent examples are Copper, Gold, and Portland cement.

 

Secretary Clinton's sought clarification on export of rare earth minerals
She saved us. Our computer world is no longer threatened.