Terry,
On closer re-read of that paper, I see where you got that figure, but
the derivation of it makes no sense at all - the wild assumptions which
were used - and basically they seem to be doing this work to justify the
high projected dollar output of a particular mine which has a mixed REO
output now at a much lower price. This is closer to politics than
science - but isn't everything in the so-called "free market"?
IF - one were concerned with getting Nd at the lowest possible price, it
would seem to me you would not go this route at all - but would instead
refine the metal, along with Th from Monazite.
This paper looks like "home cooking" for a particular agenda of the
Lynas Corporation. I will try to counter this with articles I have seen
on joint extraction of Th and Nd from Monazaite - which is looking at
the situation from minimizing costs (to a buyer) rather than maximizing
profits (of a seller).
Needless to say those agendas are not always harmonious, and the recent
run-up in copper prices, for instance, now indicate that suppliers have
an upper hand.
Does all of this pricing 'difficulty' in basic materials go back to OPEC?
Jones
