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2008.01.25 07:49 News

The place for news articles about current events in the United States and the rest of the world. Discuss it all here.
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2010.12.30 22:01 the_mister Environmental Science

This subreddit is for the *scientific discussion* of topics in the environmental sciences, geosciences, and other relevant discipline's; including papers, articles, research, public-policy, and both educational and professional advice.
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2011.03.08 03:26 scientologist2 Earth Science

A subreddit for anything having to do with Earth Sciences, including geology, geophysics, glaciology, volcanology and more!
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2024.04.23 02:55 AshurismTruth Arabian Peninsula turning Green signs of Judgement Day [Debunked]

The Arabian Peninsula is predominantly arid and desert-like, but historically and periodically, there have been instances where parts of it have turned significantly greener. These greening events are usually linked to specific climatic changes or exceptional rainfall seasons. Here are a few notable instances:

5000 BCE to 1970 CE Timeline of Environmental Changes in the Arabian Peninsula

  1. 5000 to 3000 BCE
    • The end of the Holocene climatic optimum led to gradual aridification. Despite the increasing aridity, there were pockets and periods where rainfall was sufficient to support semi-nomadic and agricultural communities, particularly around oases.
    • Sources: Archaeological evidence from settlements and remnants of ancient agricultural systems.
  2. 3000 BCE to 700 CE
    • During this long stretch, the climate continued to fluctuate, but overall, it trended towards greater aridity. However, ancient texts and archaeological finds suggest that oases and some river valleys continued to support life, with civilizations like the Dilmun (in present-day Bahrain) relying heavily on such water sources.
    • Sources: Historical texts, archaeological excavations, and geological studies of ancient water systems.
  3. 700 to 1500 CE
    • This medieval period included the rise of Islamic civilizations, which adapted to the arid environment. Innovations in water management, like aflaj irrigation systems, supported agriculture in arid and semi-arid areas, occasionally leading to localized greening.
    • Sources: Historical records of Islamic scholars and engineers, archaeological findings related to irrigation and farming practices.
  4. 1500 to 1900 CE
    • The Little Ice Age (approximately 1300-1850 CE), a period of cooler global temperatures, likely influenced weather patterns on the Arabian Peninsula as well, although the direct impacts are less documented. There could have been periods of increased rainfall and subsequent greening, but data from this region are sparse.
    • Sources: Historical climate reconstructions and proxy data like tree rings and ice cores
  5. 1900 to 1970 CE
    • The early 20th century saw the beginning of modern meteorological recording in the region. Occasional heavy rains led to periodic greening, similar to what is observed today, but these events were not well documented until the latter half of the 20th century.
    • Sources: Early meteorological records, explorers' reports, and the beginnings of environmental studies in the region.

References and Sources

During the period from 2000 to 2020, there were specific years where significant greening events occurred in the Arabian Peninsula due to above-average rainfall. These events can be attributed to anomalies in weather patterns, often influenced by climatic phenomena like the Indian Ocean Dipole or El Niño Southern Oscillation. Here are some notable instances with supporting evidence:
  1. 2004
    • Event: Exceptional rainfall in the northern parts of Saudi Arabia.
    • Evidence: Satellite imagery and meteorological data showed an increase in vegetation. Studies also reported enhanced groundwater recharge during this period.
  2. 2008
    • Event: Heavy rains in parts of Saudi Arabia and Oman.
    • Evidence: Satellite data recorded a substantial greening in usually arid regions. News reports and academic papers highlighted the transformation of desert landscapes into grasslands temporarily.
  3. 2009
    • Event: Another year of substantial rainfall, affecting regions even beyond the usual monsoon influence.
    • Evidence: Increased vegetation cover noted in satellite images; this greening was also covered in media reports and subsequent climate studies.
  4. 2013
    • Event: Unusually wet season across the Arabian Peninsula.
    • Evidence: Satellite observations showed a significant vegetation anomaly. Research articles published later discussed the impact of these rains on local ecosystems and agriculture.
  5. 2018
    • Event: Heavy rainfall events in various parts of the Arabian Peninsula, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
    • Evidence: High-resolution satellite imagery provided by agencies like NASA showed extensive greening. Media reports also documented the bloom of desert flora following these rains.
  6. 2019
    • Event: Widespread rainfall leading to greening in areas of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman.
    • Evidence: Meteorological data and satellite images captured the increased vegetation. Studies analyzing these phenomena linked them to broader climatic shifts in the region.

Sources and References:

These events highlight the sensitivity of desert ecosystems to changes in rainfall patterns and are crucial for understanding the ecological dynamics of arid regions like the Arabian Peninsula.During the period from 2000 to 2020, there were specific years where significant greening events occurred in the Arabian Peninsula due to above-average rainfall. These events can be attributed to anomalies in weather patterns, often influenced by climatic phenomena like the Indian Ocean Dipole or El Niño Southern Oscillation.
Sources and References: NASA Earth Observatory: Provides satellite images showing changes in vegetation and landscape before and after rainfall events.
Meteorological Agencies: Regional meteorological departments publish annual reports and data that record significant weather events.
Academic Research: Several studies published in journals such as the Journal of Arid Environments and Global and Planetary Change have analyzed these greening episodes in the context of climatic variations and their ecological impacts.
These events highlight the sensitivity of desert ecosystems to changes in rainfall patterns and are crucial for understanding the ecological dynamics of arid regions like the Arabian Peninsula.
The notion that the greening of the Arabian Peninsula signifies the end of the world is primarily rooted in interpretations of religious texts or apocalyptic beliefs rather than scientific evidence. Here’s how this idea can be debunked using scientific reasoning and understanding:

1. Climatic and Meteorological Explanations

2. Historical Context and Precedence

3. Scientific Studies and Predictions

4. Misinterpretation and Misinformation

In summary, the greening of the Arabian Peninsula can be explained through natural climatic variability, historical climatic cycles, and human technological impacts. These scientific explanations provide a rational basis for understanding such phenomena, starkly contrasting with interpretations of these events as signs of the end of the world.
submitted by AshurismTruth to exmuslim [link] [comments]

2024.04.05 13:30 Chico237 #NIOCORP~ US to Shell Out $4B in First Round of Advanced Energy Tax Credits & a bit more!...

#NIOCORP~ US to Shell Out $4B in First Round of Advanced Energy Tax Credits & a bit more!...

Perhaps Niocorp will qualify too?

ON APRIL 3, 2024 ~American Battery Technology Company Awarded $20 Million Tax Credit through Competitive US DOE Process to Advance its Critical Minerals Battery Recycling Facility

American Battery Technology Company Awarded $20 Million Tax Credit through Competitive US DOE Process to Advance its Critical Minerals Battery Recycling Facility (yahoo.com)

APRIL 4th 2024- US to Shell Out $4B in First Round of Advanced Energy Tax Credits

US to Shell Out $4B in First Round of Advanced Energy Tax Credit Rigzone

Over 100 projects across 35 states have been selected for the first round of the 10 billion Advanced Energy Tax Credit.
https://preview.redd.it/th29ndvp8nsc1.png?width=582&format=png&auto=webp&s=36a65ef1bf1572184f020abef87457225a5bca7f
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $4 billion in tax reductions for projects that grow the domestic supply chain for clean energy and critical minerals, as well as industrial decarbonization projects.
Over 100 projects across 35 states have been selected for the first round of the Advanced Energy Tax Credit, a $10 billion incentive created by the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
The projects “span across large, medium, and small businesses and state and local governments, all of which must meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements to receive a 30 percent investment tax credit”, the DOE said in a new release.
The bulk of the first-round credits at $2.7 billion has been set aside “for the buildout of U.S. manufacturing capabilities critical for clean energy deployment and span clean hydrogen (e.g., electrolyzers, fuel cells, and subcomponents), grid (e.g., cables, conductors, transformers, and energy storage), electric vehicles (e.g., battery components, power electronics), nuclear power, solar PV, and wind energy (including offshore wind components), among other industries and components critical to supporting secure and resilient domestic clean energy supply chains”, the announcement stated.
The DOE has allocated $800 million for projects involved “in multiple electrical steel applications, lithium-ion battery recycling, and rare earth projects, all critical areas for maintaining a secure, reliable energy system and advancing the clean energy transition”.
For industrial decarbonization, the department has earmarkedn $500 million. “Selected projects would implement decarbonization measures across diverse sectors, including chemicals, food and beverage, pulp and paper, biofuels, glass, ceramics, iron and steel, automotive manufacturing, and building materials”, the DOE said. “Low-carbon fuels, feedstocks, and energy sources are well-represented as a solution for decarbonization across these projects”.
The tax credit, created by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Section 48C and expanded by the 2022 IRA, “will help to catalyze the nation’s equitable transition to a clean, secure, affordable, and resilient energy system, reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions, and create high-quality jobs across the country”, the DOE said.
For the duration of the IRA-funded 48C, at least $4 billion must go to communities with closed coal mines or coal plants, as specified by the IRS.
In the first round, $1.5 billion has been allotted for projects in “historic energy communities”, the DOE said without elaborating.
Applicants that submitted proposals in the first round had sought a total of $42 billion. Those who went on to file full applications requested a total of $13.5 billion, according to the DOE.
“From direct grants to historic tax credits, the President’s Investing in America agenda is making the nation an irresistible place to invest in clean energy manufacturing”, Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm said in a statement, referring to President Joe Biden’s umbrella campaign to boost the country’s infrastructure and manufacturing capacity. “The President’s agenda places direct emphasis on communities that have traditionally powered our nation for generations, helping ensure those communities reap the economic benefits of the clean energy transition and continue to play a leading role in building up the next wave of energy sources”.
Projects picked for the tax credit must start operating two years after certification, according to the DOE.
For the second round, the DOE and the IRS will issue a solicitation notice for project proposals “in the coming months”, the DOE said.

MARCH 26th ~BPC Calls on Treasury to Revise 45X Guidance to Include Critical Mineral Extraction and Acquisition Costs

bipartisanpolicy.org/download/?file=/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BPC_45X-Treasury-Guidance-Response.pdf

Dear Secretary Yellen,
The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) submits the following comments to express concern that the Department of the Treasury's proposed guidancei for the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit undermines the tax credit’s purpose to bolster domestic critical minerals capacity. BPC recommends that the U.S. Department of Treasury make revisions to the proposed rule to align it with the intent of Congress and to ensure the credit properly incentivizes investment in domestic critical mineral projects. In particular, this should include costs related to the extraction or acquisition of raw materials in the definition of “production costs” for eligible projects. This change would substantially increase the value of the credit for U.S. critical mineral processing projects. The current guidance, which does not include the cost of acquiring raw minerals, is comparable to offering a tax credit for manufacturing shirts while omitting the cost of acquiring the cotton required to produce the shirts. The result of this guidance will be a decrease in overall investment in the U.S. critical mineral sector, leaving the American economy reliant on China’s dominant critical mineral sector significantly impacting U.S. national security. Mineral Extraction and Acquisition Costs Need to be Included in 45X The 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit provides a 10% tax credit for the production of applicable critical minerals, which are defined as minerals that are refined to their purified state. In December 2023, the Department of the Treasury issued draft guidance (88 FR 86844) to implement the tax credit but stated that eligible critical mineral processing projects cannot include the cost of acquiring raw critical minerals in their “production costs,” therefore reducing the value of the tax credit. Instead, Treasury proposes only applying the 10% credit to the costs directly related to processing the minerals, such as energy usage and labor. However, acquisition of feedstock represents one of the main expenses in processing critical minerals. 45X statute had no mention of excluding these costs and leaving them out deviates from congressional intent while limiting the provisions’ ability to increase U.S. supply chain security.
https://preview.redd.it/pbrtn1ewansc1.png?width=589&format=png&auto=webp&s=12102456dddfeb8645813894021af8a25351fc54

Congressional Intent to Secure American Critical Mineral Supply Chains

Through 45X, Congress intended to support American critical mineral projects in an effort to curb the U.S. economy’s substantial reliance on China for these materials. The processing segment of the critical minerals supply chain, which transforms raw ores into the purified minerals needed for modern technologies, is dominated by China. China controls 65% of lithium, 74% of cobalt, 90% of rare earth elements, and 100% of graphite processing capacities, among others.ii This dominance is expected to grow as Chinese companies doubled their investments into the critical mineral sector in 2022.iii Consequently, the U.S. depends on China as the primary supplier of 24 out of the 50 critical minerals listed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).iv Risks created by the increasing monopolization of the mineral processing sector are compounded by China’s demonstrated willingness to leverage its market power — most recently through export restrictions on gallium, germanium, graphite, and the technologies used to process many critical minerals including rare earth elements.
Congress worked across the aisle in an attempt to address this immense challenge through recent provisions that support the domestic critical minerals industry, including in the Energy Act of 2020vi, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Lawvii, the CHIPS and Science Actviii, and the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Actix. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) added an important policy tool by including critical minerals in the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit in an effort to catalyze private investment into domestic projects.
BPC calls on Treasury to ensure that the value of the credit reflects congressional intent as was outlined by nine U.S. Senators in a letter to the Treasury on February 14, 2024. The Senators stated that “Treasury should ensure the credit properly incentives the entirety of the domestic supply chain for applicable critical mineral and eligible components, including mineral extraction and electric vehicle battery production.” Further, the Members stated Treasury’s "exclusion is not aligned with the intent of Congress” and will “disincentivize investment in the United States, and also increase our reliance on countries that do not share our democratic or geopolitical values. This result would be contrary to the intent of the legislation and detrimental to our national and energy security.”

BPC Calls on Treasury to Revise Guidance BPC requests that Department of Treasury reverse course *and include the cost of mineral extraction and acquisition in the definition of production costs, which would increase the value of the credit to accurately reflect the cost of processing critical minerals. This approach would increase private investment in the American critical minerals sector across the supply chain by increasing the economic feasibility of domestic processing projects, which in turn provide demand for mining projects and supplies to end-use manufacturing projects. Making this revision would better align the implementation of 45X with congressional intent and support the U.S.’s bipartisan effort to secure critical mineral supply chains necessary for national security, economic prosperity, and the energy transition.

FEB. 2024 ~Q&A The Debate over the 45X Tax Credit and Critical Minerals Mining

Q&A The Debate over the 45X Tax Credit and Critical Minerals Mining - Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA CGEP %

In December, the US Treasury Department released a proposed rule for the Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit, part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Better known as 45X, the production tax credit is a core lever in supporting the onshoring and development of advanced manufacturing for clean energy technologies and components, including solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and critical minerals. However, a coalition of mining companies, automakers, and Democratic senators has criticized the proposed rule, arguing against its exclusion of domestic mining. This Q&A examines the issues fueling the disagreement.

What is 45X?

The 45X tax credit is a key to unlocking the IRA’s main goals—onshoring and growing domestic manufacturing, creating new supply chains for clean energy, and combating climate change—by driving down the price of clean energy technologies. 45X is a production tax credit (PTC), meaning that a taxpayer (company) receives the credit for each unit of production.
https://preview.redd.it/28gs6cmw9nsc1.png?width=952&format=png&auto=webp&s=9362839480ee814fe0ec771aa781dc299008de8b

For critical minerals, 45X provides a 10% credit on the production of 50 minerals outlined in the legislation. While for other technologies the tax credit ends on a specific date over the next decade, there is no such sunset clause for critical minerals. This can provide additional certainty for projects, especially considering that mineral-related projects can be delayed because of permitting issues. While 45X received praise from clean energy sectors like the solar industry,[1] it has come under heavy criticism by the mining industry and some legislators who believe that the proposed rule does not adequately support the domestic supply chain—when the Biden administration’s goal, along with bipartisan consensus in Congress, is to expand domestic mineral production for national and economic security in the face of China’s dominant position.

What is the issue at the heart of the debate?

The proposed rule states that “direct and indirect material costs [and] any costs related to the extraction or acquisition of raw materials would not be taken into account as production costs.” This means that the tax credit would not go to mining companies for directly extracting raw minerals (mining). Instead, the PTC could be used only by mineral processors—those that convert raw minerals into the higher-value chemicals used directly in clean energy technologies—and by battery recyclers. For example, the mining of lithium is not PTC-eligible, but its conversion into lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide (needed for lithium-ion batteries) is. However, the current PTC guidance is challenging even for processors and recyclers, as the cost of purchasing raw materials is also not included.
The cost of acquiring raw minerals to produce critical processed minerals, as well as the cost of materials used for “conversion, purification, or recycling” of the raw material, would not count toward production costs.[2] This impacts both processing and recycling companies, as many in the industry have pointed out in comment letters to the Treasury Department. Li-Cycle, an emerging lithium-ion battery recycling company, stated that “the direct cost to acquire recyclable feedstock and the indirect cost to acquire reagents used in the processing of recyclable feedstock are the predominant materials costs associated with battery recycling.”[3] When it comes to processing, Tesla noted, “the key driver of processing costs is the cost of raw materials, which represent over three quarters of the levelized costs per ton of refining.”[4]Albemarle, a leading lithium producer, estimated that “direct and indirect materials costs currently represent upwards of 70% of sales price.”[5]
Collectively, this means that 45X does not support domestic mining and severely limits support for recycling and processing.

What is the Treasury Department’s current view on critical mineral production?

The Treasury Department has stated that the rule is written to ensure there is no double counting along the mineral supply chain and that the credit goes only to value-added activities. The rule notes that Treasury wants to “provide a credit for the costs associated with production activities that add value to the applicable critical mineral.”[6] However, the extraction of material from the ground and the process of turning it into a concentrate adds significant value.
Additionally, deputy treasury secretary Wally Adeyemo has stated that the credit is not meant to support the purchase of minerals from foreign sources.[7] This is in line with the administration’s goals as well as with other rules within the IRA. However, a “Buy America” or Free Trade Agreement (FTA) clause—as used in the IRA’s electric vehicle (EV) subsidies—could ensure that material costs are included without benefitting China or other competitors. Adopting this approach would qualify the purchase of minerals from US or FTA producers for the PTC.

What is the response to the proposed rule?

The proposed rule has elicited strong criticism from a coalition of miners, automakers, and battery recyclers, as well as some senators who voted for the IRA. Nine senators who caucus with Democrats have written to the Treasury Department requesting the rule be revised to align with “the intent of Congress.” They explicitly stated that “raw materials costs were never intended to be excluded from this calculation.”[8]
More than 40 battery supply chain stakeholders, including General Motors and Tesla, have also signed onto the letter, stating that the current proposed rule “will curtail future domestic supply, worsening an increasing minerals bottleneck.”[9] Many participants at a recent Chatham House rule event with industry stakeholders, cohosted by the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP), echoed this belief—with mining companies, mineral processors, and automakers agreeing that limiting 45X limits the growth of the battery supply chain in the United States.
However, environmental groups and progressive organizations are urging the Treasury Department to continue to exclude mineral extraction from the tax credit. For example, the Center for American Progress believes that the congressional intent was to expand mineral processing and that mineral processing is more important than domestic mining.[10]

What is at stake with the current rule?

The Treasury Department’s final rule proposal could have a profound impact on the United States’ ability to build a domestic mining and processing supply chain. Just as 45X is already helping to expand the solar and battery industry, the tax credit would support domestic producers that face a severe cost disadvantage compared to Chinese companies, not to mention the decades-long head start Chinese companies have over American producers.
It is important to view 45X in conjunction with another other IRA tax credit, the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit, or 30D. 30D provides a $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of a qualifying EV. Automakers must source the critical minerals needed for their vehicles’ lithium-ion batteries from the United States or an FTA country to qualify for the credit. Additionally, the minerals cannot be produced by a company controlled by a Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC), notably China. The Treasury Department issued stringent FEOC guidance, making it difficult to source qualifying critical minerals. Elsewhere, the authors have called this a “bet” on the US and its partners quickly ramping up production of critical minerals. However, the 45X guidance makes that bet more challenging. According to Piedmont Lithium, which is considering moving its two planned lithium processing facilities abroad, “without the 45X credit, many of the critical mineral projects being planned for the U.S. will likely relocate abroad.”[11]
Permitting issues, price volatility, and increased costs of mining in the United States make domestic mining and mineral processing difficult compared to other countries, especially China. 45X could play a considerable role in making domestic production more economical and allow for more EVs to qualify for the 30D tax credit. It is also important to note that US domestic mineral production is cleaner, and hence costlier, than in many other countries. Financial support to offset the extra costs while maintaining environmental standards would ensure a more sustainable energy transition.

What is the path forward?

The proposed rule is only one stage in the policymaking process. In testimony before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in January, Deputy Secretary Adeyemo said the administration wants input from stakeholders to create a final rule that provides the right incentives, including for mining.[12] The open comment period ended in mid-February. Now the Treasury Department will engage with stakeholders, and will provide a final rule later this year.
The Treasury Department’s final rule will provide insight into the Biden administration’s view of the battery supply chain. Adding extraction to 45X would demonstrate that the administration wants to support domestic mining, along with the other supply chain segments, just as it has financially supported mines through the Defense Production Act.[13] The current proposal supports the downstream, higher-value segments of the supply chain but eschews mining. As written, 45X suggests that US companies source raw materials from international locations with potentially lower environmental, social, and governance standards, and have the US be a home for mineral processing. Still, even this amounts to half-hearted support for the domestic industry if the rule continues to exclude material costs.
​

****SEE NIOCORP/JIM SIM'S Responses given on Jan. 3rd, 2024 - to relevant questions asked Dec. 18th, 2023

1) Could NioCorp benefit from a possible DoD partial 2024 Feasibility Study funding option for critical minerals production once the 2024 NDAA is signed? RESPONSE:

"It would take too long to wait for government funding from this new initiative specific to the costs of updating our Feasibility Study. We are working on raising funds to complete that work now."

2) Could you offer comment on the new IRS tax credits for critical minerals covered under section 45x. A) How would-could they benefit Niocorp’s crucial minerals moving forward? RESPONSE:

*"Fortunately, all of our proposed products are listed as eligible for the 10% production tax credit established in Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit. The IRS is now looking to promulgate specific regulations on what can be included in the definition of production costs and on other issues, and we expect to submit comments to the IRS on some of these issues, either directly or in conjunction with comments that the National Mining Association (of which we are a member) will submit. As to quantifying the benefits of this federal tax credit, that will depend upon how the IRS chooses to implement the governing regulations, including what is allowed to be included in the scope of production costs. But, suffice to say, a 10% production tax credit for a project such as ours that has multiple critical minerals eligible for the credit could deliver very valuable and important economic benefits to the Project. "***

B) How would-could these tax credits benefit future end users of Niocorp’s critical minerals utilized in the production & manufacturing of products moving forward. RESPONSE:

"The 45X production tax credit is currently limited to those companies that produce the critical minerals identified as eligible for the tax credit(s). The IRS has proposed to disallow use of the credit by companies that take those critical minerals and convert them into other products. But, again, as with all federal tax law changes, one must wait for the final word on the implementing regulations to judge the value of these changes in the law. "

3) Do you foresee Niocorp possibly benefiting from other sections/amendments to the 2024 NDAA once signed into law once the project is financed. -T.B.D. A) Such as the need to secure U.S. domestic supplies of Niobium , Scandium, Titanium & Rare Earth processing… ? RESPONSE:

"Yes, as we were active in helping to shape the FY24 NDAA. "

B) The possibility of Niocorp becoming a DoD “Stockpile” supplier of domestically sourced critical minerals? RESPONSE:

"Yes, quite possibly. It depends upon product availability, pricing, and other factors at the time. "

C) Please comment if other possible/potential benefits exist. (If/ where you can..��)

"NO COMMENT!😜"

4) Will an Investor Presentation with Q/A be forthcoming once Niocorp achieves certain milestones in early 2024? RESPONSE:

"YES"

"We periodically update our Investor Presentation when material developments or other news items make that appropriate."

FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS ABOVE:

10% TAX CREDITS FOR MINING & "**** Include the cost of mineral extraction and acquisition in the definition of production costs, which would increase the value of the credit to accurately reflect the cost of processing critical minerals.***"

WOULD BE HUGE!

**LET'S GO NIOCORP! SHOW US THE FINAL VALIDATED 2024 F.S. WITH ALL THE GOODIES!!!!!!

​
https://preview.redd.it/zsybn8robnsc1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=5ae107c2e819e7fa2c8fd340db198a8824f44eb7
WAITING TO "ENGAGE!!!" WITH MANY
Chico
submitted by Chico237 to NIOCORP_MINE [link] [comments]

2024.03.29 02:32 ar_david_hh Education reforms: years, credits, access, food \\ AM-US-EU meeting details \\ Gaza aid \\ "Government-in-exile" \\ Water price \\ Fine reduction \\ EuroNest session \\ EAEU vs EU: trade & standards \\ Hayk Marutyan \\ And more

16-minute read.

what problems is the education ministry tackling through various reforms and the new չափորոշիչ standards?

MINISTER ANDREASYAN: We had a large gap between the number of years spent in school and the actual level of education students graduate with. This is the metric that measures the real quality of education in a country. In Armenia, you studied 8.5 years worth of material in 12 years. This slightly improved in 2019 compared to 2015.
Our new standards have led to this gap shortening by 0.5 years, according to World Bank research. They have found that the progress recorded in Armenia is twice as good as in similar countries that are tackling the same problem.
We launched these reforms in a very difficult period for Armenia - during COVID and immediately after the 2020 war. After COVID, many countries reduced education expenditures. Armenia was one of the few that increased it, and in 2024 it is +38% YoY. It shows how much of a priority education is for us.
The second focus of the new standards is the right to education. We often have children who are formally enrolled in school but can't keep up with peers for various reasons. In the past, they would receive unsatisfactory scores, be forced to retake exams, or be kept in the same grade. This did not improve their situation and made them a target for further labeling. Under the new standards, we have abolished the unsatisfactory score system and if the child twice scores 1-3 points out of 10, the state will be obligated to provide additional assistance to the child. They are enrolled in a longer-hour service to absorb the 45-minute material that their peers study. This process is financed by the state. This is how it works in 2nd, 5th, and 7th grades starting September 2023. Four more grades will join in September 2024.
The third focus is infrastructure. Many schools are not seismically safe and lack the most basic accessibility and communication. The government has a program to re/build 300 schools and 500 kindergartens. This will benefit 108,000 students, over a quarter of the total. We are building schools in villages that have never had one. Today classes in many villages are held in facilities that are not meant to be schools and don't have sports centers and other basic conditions. The new schools will come with new furniture and equipment for STEM and IT.
The fourth focus is food. Last year we made a complete switch for a government-funded food program to guarantee one meal per day for provincial students in 1-4 grades. The work done in Armenia is one of the most successful cases in the world, which is why our representatives were invited to several international platforms to share their experiences so other countries can implement them. Proper consumption of food is crucial for good academic performance. There were various experiments, for example, to encourage the consumption of milk. By monitoring children's conduct before and after lengthy vacations, we have learned that the good habits they take home usually have a positive impact on their entire family and become long-term habits. For example, children have started to "prohibit" their parents from buying sugary sodas. This is all shown in the research. //
The government plans to sign contracts with private swimming pool operators to make them accessible to students, for now in provinces.
QUESTION: Last September students went to school without textbooks. They arrived late. Why?
MINISTER: We were busting a decades-long printing monopoly in which the book creator and the printer used to be the same organization and they were keeping the prices inflated. It coincided with the implementation of the new standards. The first batch of textbooks arrived on the first working day of September. The distribution will be smoother this year because we have more time to prepare.
QUESTION: Why is there a complaint about moving the Conservatory to Academic City?
MINISTER: To improve the quality of Armenia's universities and scientific capacities, we must merge state universities and attach them to state science-research centers. Last year we invited universities and scientific centers to submit their opinion on how to organize the mergers. 12 state universities and 36 state science centers participated in the process that ended in February. We have formed several working groups that will work with universities and science centers to find the best path for organizing education and science in each direction. As soon as we announced the formation of the working groups, certain circles manipulated the headlines and presented it as the actual merger process. They played on the emotions of students and professors. These discussions are going to take time.
RULING MP: You mentioned that students study 12 years but only receive approximately 8 years' worth of education. They are essentially wasting 4 years. Should we shorten the school or fill that gap through other means?
MINISTER: You won't see schools shorter than 11 years in countries with high performance. In these developed countries, education begins from an earlier age. Research shows that the sooner the education begins, the more significant its impact will be. We are still trying to convince Armenian parents that taking their children to 1st grade from age 6 is normal. Many overprotective parents "pity" their children and wait until they turn 7. We have difficulty explaining to parents that education is not torture. Also, parents should allow children to do the homework themselves, even if it's a lot, so they can learn time management and planning.
So, in developed countries, they focus on starting from an early age without cutting the total number of years. The problem is that when the transition from 10- to 12-year school was made in Armenia, it was completely a mechanical transition. When they separated the classes into elementary, middle, and high schools, it wasn't clearly formulated the issue that each category was supposed to solve.
The ongoing reforms will succeed because there is a heavy emphasis on high school: (1) It will be flexible with personalized classes. The student can decide what to study in addition to the mandatory subjects. (2) We are tying high school to the student's future major. We have implemented a system of credits. If you take a specific class in high school and get a credit, you can use it later in college or university to "deduct" it. The credit system is being experimented right now in several schools; we have reached an agreement with universities. The preliminary research shows that it has a significant impact on the quality of education. //
more,

government authorizes 30 tons of humanitarian aid for Gaza

The agreement was reached during PM Pashinyan's visit to Egypt, where he sought Sisi's help to deliver the aid to Palestinians.
source,

airplane with Gaza aid was loaded on Thursday

It landed in Egypt and was transferred to Red Crescent for delivery.
video source,

NSS is hiring border agents for Yerevan's airport ahead of the planned removal of Russian agents by August 1

Agents are also needed for Bagratashen and other entry points.
video,

U.S. government sent cybersecurity experts to help develop standards in Armenia

Armenia's high-tech ministry, the Information Systems Agency of Armenia, and the US State Department's Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy organized a 2-day meeting in Yerevan dedicated to the implementation of a nationwide cybersecurity strategy.
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U.S. State Department provided details about the April meeting with Armenia and the EU

SPOKESMAN: Secretary Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power will join a trilateral meeting with Pashinyan and von der Leyen, regarding US and EU support for Armenia’s economic resilience as it works to diversify its trade partnerships and address humanitarian needs.
REPORTER: Is that purely Armenia thing?
SPOKESMAN: Correct.
REPORTER: Do you expect to also discuss the AM-AZ conflict during that meeting?
SPOKESMAN: I suppose it’s always possible it could come up on the margins of the meeting, but that’s not the focus of the meeting. The meeting in Brussels is to focus on Armenia’s economic resilience.
REPORTER: You probably have seen the Azeri reaction in response to the meeting. They called it "dividing". They said the US and EU might share responsibility for potential escalation following this meeting. What is your reaction?
SPOKESMAN: I obviously would not agree with those comments. The focus of this meeting is on economic resilience to help Armenia diversify its trade partnerships and address humanitarian needs. I fail to see why that would be escalatory or would be of a concern to any country in the world.
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Russia joins Azerbaijan in criticizing the April 5 meeting and the presence of EU's border monitoring mission in Armenia

KREMLIN: It's being done against Russia. Other regional states are also concerned. Why is Yerevan pretending like it doesn't understand this? Armenia is turning into a tool for the implementation of an extremely dangerous plan against Russia. The Armenian leadership has taken the course of collapsing RU-AM relations. The EU's border mission in Armenia is turning into a NATO mission; they are now sending soldiers from Norway, Canada, and the US. //
source, source, source,

Armenia criticizes Azerbaijan for delaying the mediation process by EU and US

FOREIGN MINISTRY: The AM-US-EU meeting scheduled for April 5 in Brussels will be dedicated to strengthening AM-EU-US cooperation and is not and cannot be directed against any third party.
As for Azerbaijan's accusations of destabilizing the situation in the region, let us reaffirm that Armenia is ready for the immediate signing of the peace treaty, the border delimitation, and the opening of regional communications. We are speaking about the following 3 principles:
a) Armenia and Azerbaijan mutually recognize each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration.
b) The delimitation and demarcation process is carried out based on the Alma-Ata Declaration. This means that instead of creating a new border, the borders that existed de jure within the USSR at the time of the adoption of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration should be replicated on the ground. Afterwards, the territories de jure belonging to each country must be under that country's control.
c) Unblocking regional communications, respecting the sovereignty and the jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass, based on the principle of equality and reciprocity. Armenia has expressed its willingness by developing the "Crossroads of Peace" project, which has been widely welcomed by the international community.
Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani side is delaying and undermining the peace process under various artificial pretexts, including continuously rejecting mediation proposals made by the EU and the US.
Instead of complaining about inclusiveness, Azerbaijan could eventually accept the proposals to meet at the level of Foreign Ministers in Washington D.C., and at the level of heads of state in Brussels.
Perhaps it would be also relevant to mention the continuous actions by Azerbaijan, the efforts towards excluding Armenia from regional projects, undermining the principle of inclusiveness in every possible way, a vivid example of which is reflected in hindering Armenia's participation in the Black Sea Submarine Cable project.
The Brussels meeting provides a valuable opportunity to discuss the Armenia-US, and Armenia-EU bilateral agendas, as well as issues on the Armenia-US-EU cooperation. We anticipate having substantive discussions on the political dialogue, the development of Armenia's economic and energy capacities, as well as addressing humanitarian issues that Armenia is facing. It is not directed against third states. //
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Armenia climbing up through the ranks of big boy clubs

ALEN SIMONYAN: The EU has invited Armenia to join the [presumably Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments] in mid-April. This will be the first-ever participation by Armenia and I believe by any country from the ex-USSR bloc. Not even the "candidates" are invited. The AM-EU contacts are currently at a very high level. //
source, source,

ruling party presents details from the EuroNest session

Ruling MPs presented details from the recent EuroNest session. Full video here: video,
RULING MP: EuroNest has several committees: political & security, humanitarian & social, energy, and economy. Each committee discussed reports presented by MPs. In the end, they were merged into a single "annual" resolution. Here are some parts of it:
Political: EuroNest encourages the AM-AZ normalization process and recognition of territorial integrity, discourages incendiary rhetoric, and urges the EU to get involved more intensively. Welcomes the Armenian government's decision to strengthen Armenia's ties with the EU. Urges EU structures to develop specific solutions to support Armenia's EU aspirations.
Humanitarian & Social: I co-authored this resolution. It's about supporting refugees in Eastern Partnership states. As of mid-2023, there were 36,000 refugees in Armenia. Another 101,000 were accepted in September from Nagorno-Karabakh. The resolution describes the monthslong blockade and forced displacement. The resolution urges the EU to increase financial aid for Armenia to support refugees.
EuroNest also discussed topics relating to Ukraine and other regions.
During committee meetings, it is customary for MPs to present amendments. As the ruling faction, we wanted to further strengthen the paragraphs relating to the territorial integrity of Armenia, so we submitted an amendment for the resolution to include the 1991 Almaty Declaration as the basis for AM-AZ territorial integrity and delimitation. Azerbaijani delegation obviously opposed it, and sadly, our opposition MPs representing Armenia also did not vote in favor of it. Our amendment wasn't accepted due to insufficient votes, but not entirely because of our opposition colleagues. In contrast, we voted in favor of another amendment presented by our opposition colleagues to strengthen the part about the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh because we deemed that amendment as beneficial for Armenia. It is unfortunate when some MPs vote against resolutions without a valid justification. Our opposition colleagues' amendment also didn't pass due to a lack of votes.
Nevertheless, the Azerbaijani delegation was furious because of the language used in the final humanitarian committee report and because I was the co-author of it. Their attempts to amend and remove certain phrases failed. //
REPORTER: Will we receive money and assistance to raise the standards in Armenia during the big April 5 meeting?
RULING MP: The Economy is a major topic in Armenia-West dialogue today. For us, a strong economy also means security. Armenia must diversify its markets. A lot depends on the willingness of the private sector to cooperate with the government to raise their standards. This is about national security, too. Budget revenues and investments translate into security. I also hope the leaders will discuss direct defense assistance besides the economy.
REPORTER: Could we soon hear news about Armenia withdrawing from Russia's EAEU economic bloc?
RULING MP: There are no discussions at the moment on the withdrawal from EAEU.
QUESTION: What do you mean by diversification of markets?
RULING MP2: Diversification of exports. The #1 homework we have to do is raising the quality of our goods so they can match the requirements of markets where we want to export them. We cannot raise the standards by simply spending money on it. We need to improve our knowledge, legislation, and domestic standards. Work is already being done in this direction. We are currently integrated into EAEU but it's still necessary to diversify our export destinations. I suppose this will be discussed on April 5.
QUESTION: Parallel with Russia, or exit the Russian market entirely and redirect exports to the EU?
RULING MP2: Let me remind you that up until 2013 Armenia was actively headed towards integration with the EU and we were close to signing a large agreement that included today's CEPA plus additional economic components. However, a decision was made in the end to join the EAEU instead. The Serj administration publicly declared a strategy of "yev-yev" [integrate with both]. It is possible to work with both markets without eliminating one entirely. Every market has a shortage of certain goods and every market has its standards. Today the EU's doors are not closed to us; the problem is in standards in Armenia.
QUESTION: Why didn't Armenia join the CSTO message to condemn the terror attack in Moscow?
RULING MP: Armenia condemned the attack immediately after it happened.
source, source,

Pashinyan criticized Nagorno-Karabakh's political elites for "placing Armenia's security at risk"

Context: Nagorno-Karabakh president Shahramanyan recently told a journalist from Le Figaro that they have a government office in Yerevan and that he has been signing decrees and that Nagorno-Karabakh MPs can gather and hold a vote.
PASHINYAN: I'm forced to note that a certain group from Nagorno-Karabakh, knowingly or unknowingly, is placing Armenia's national security at risk by announcing so-called "government in exile" and other things. Let me make this very clear: there is only one government in Armenia and it is located in this building. Everyone needs to understand that. If necessary, measures must be taken to ensure that foreign forces do not use these circles to endanger Armenia's security. The only government in Armenia is the government of the Republic of Armenia. Do not take this as merely a political statement by me. This must be materialized on the ground. [The Nagorno-Karabakh political elites] who declare themselves a government in exile today, were given the opportunity to call themselves government in Nagorno-Karabakh and we saw how they squandered it. One more time: there is no other government in Armenia other than the government of the Republic of Armenia, there has never been another one, and there will not be another one. It is more than disrespectful towards the Republic of Armenia if anyone can rent an apartment and declare themselves as a "government of X". This will not be left unaddressed. //
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deputy chief of staff of Pashinyan office calls for closure of offices run by Nagorno-Karabakh government figures

CHAXOYAN: After carrying out a coup in Nagorno-Karabakh and leading to the exodus of Armenians from Karabakh, the same adventurers are attempting to present themselves as government-in-exile in Armenia, which is a direct threat to Armenia's national security. //
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pro-West public figures in Armenia launch a barrage of criticism towards the "pro-Russia" figures in Nagorno-Karabakh's "government-in-exile"

They believe Shahramanyan's statements put Armenia's security in danger.
NGO CHIEF: Last year when [ex-]President Arayik Harutyunyan was trying to negotiate with Azerbaijan and when they were invited to Sofia, the opposition [current government] successfully derailed those efforts and ousted Harutyunyan. They rejected the US platform. Today they are attempting the same in the AM-AZ process. They don't want this conflict to be resolved. //
source, source, source, source,

government will continue to pay $125/mo to each Nagorno-Karabakh refugee until December

MINISTER: The list will expand to include 6,000 residents of Nagorno-Karabakh who were forced to move to Armenia in 2020, and not just 2023 September. Newborn children will also qualify. //
Several forms of assistance were allocated to refugees after September. This one pertains to the "40+10" aid.
PASHINYAN: Almost 12,000 of our brothers and sisters from Nagorno-Karabakh have found a job in Armenia. We will encourage this process. The vast majority of the 17,000 children are already in school.
MINISTER: Hundreds of refugee teachers have found employment in provinces as part of a special program. //
The government is also refining the program that will provide financial assistance for permanent housing to refugees. The final terms will be known in 1-2 months.
source,

ex-Mayor of Yerevan Hayk Marutyan forms a new political party to oust Pashinyan

Marutyan's "New Force" political party will launch on May 1. He was recently ousted from the municipality for not attending sessions. Prior to that, he made a failed attempt to form a coalition with opposition factions to return as the mayor of Yerevan.
source,

government will continue to subsidize the water price for consumers

Veolia Water had requested permission to raise the price to a unified ֏209 ($0.54). The utility regulator rejected the petition and maintained the pricing:
Low-income households: ֏180 ($0.46)
Other households: ֏206 ($0.53)
Veolia Water has received ֏1.1B ($2.8M) in state subsidies for this year. In 2017 Armenia signed a 15-year contract with the French giant.
source,

Armenia Fund has provided financial support to 16 Armenian educational institutions in Lebanon

source,

Defense Minister Papikyan went to watch drones and shit

video,

more women are having 3 or more children

The Labor & Social Minister presented stats about demographics and the January 2022 state subsidy program aimed at boosting the birth rate.
MINISTER: We emphasized the importance of increasing the number of families with 3 or more children. This is the number of children who were born 3rd, 4th, etc. in their families:
2018: 8,271
2022: 11,956
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authorities charge 3 doctors with wrongful death of a pregnant woman in 2022

AUTHORITIES: A 20 y/o pregnant woman was admitted to a hospital in Vanadzor after feeling unwell. She was incorrectly diagnosed with right-side lumboischialgia and sent home after being prescribed medication. She returned to the hospital hours later and was placed on watch. The doctors continued to give her the pills after the incorrect diagnosis. Her condition continued to worsen. Two specialists examined her incorrectly and ignored her lung report. The third specialist discovered a vesicular respiration issue but they didn't follow up with the proper diagnosis of the main issue, which was bilateral interstitial pneumonia with pus in the lungs. The woman died three days later shortly after the death of the fetus. //
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courts going digital eliminates the need to have a "mostly empty" court building in every community: Justice Minister

Context: There were complaints about the decision to shut down the court building in Meghri and merge it with the building in another town.
MINISTER: We are gradually shifting away from in-person court sessions for civil trials. Last year there were a total of 60 sessions in Meghri. The digitization that began this year would have made it 10. Besides that, facilities in some towns are in such terrible condition that people who work there have asked us to move and work from the nearby town. There is an optimization process. The 500 m2 building in Meghri was in great shape but I believe it only had 1 judge. A big building, heating, utilities, all for one judge to hear 1-2 cases per month. Meghri judge will move to Goris, while the vacated facility will be used by the Interior Ministry. The judge's staff will be hired by other state offices if they don't want to work from Goris.
source,

Armenia is building a new prison with modern standards

JUSTICE MINISTER: So far we have been "patching" problems in penitentiary facilities by installing ventilation systems, rebuilding decayed walls, etc. The Armavir Prison will meet the minimum international standards after the completion of ongoing repairs.
The real change will arrive when we build the new prison. The plan is ready, the company has been chosen and they launched the project in Erebuni, but the geological study revealed that it's impossible to build a prison there because the bottom layer is entirely a mixture of clay and water. That actually explains why the Soviet-era facilities were decaying so quickly. They prohibited us from building the new prison there so we took the plan to another state-owned land plot near Abovyan Prison. This will actually expedite the previously estimated 4-year construction process due to a more favorable location in terms of logistics. //
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the obligation will be considered fulfilled if you pay 50% of your outstanding fines within the next 3 months: interior ministry

ՆԳՆ կողմից իրականացված օրենսդրական բարեփոխումների արդյունքում մինչև ապրիլի 5-ը կատարված իրավախախտումների շրջանակում գոյացած պարտավորությունների մասով ապրիլի 5-ից սկսած՝ 3 ամսվա ընթացքում քաղաքացին կարող է մարել ամբողջ պարտավորությունը բոնուսային համակարգով
full,

traffic violation ticket is about to cost 44% less

Earlier this year the government adopted a law to encourage prompt payment of tickets electronically to increase payment discipline and cut paper waste.
Starting April 5, you can receive a 30% "discount" by paying the ticket within 15 days of receiving it. After May 1, a further 20% discount is applied if you sign up for electronic exchange.
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submitted by ar_david_hh to armenia [link] [comments]

2024.03.23 12:43 Chico237 #NIOCORP- NIOBIUM, TITANIUM, RARE EARTHS ~US tests hypersonic missile in Pacific as it aims to keep up with China and Russia & a bit more with COFFEE! =)

#NIOCORP- NIOBIUM, TITANIUM, RARE EARTHS ~US tests hypersonic missile in Pacific as it aims to keep up with China and Russia & a bit more with COFFEE! =)

MARCH 21st, 2024~ US tests hypersonic missile in Pacific as it aims to keep up with China and Russia

US tests hypersonic missile in Pacific as it aims to keep up with China and Russia CNN
B-52 crews take part in hypersonic weapon familiarization training at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on February 27, 2024. Staff Sgt. Pedro Tenorio/Andersen Air Force Base
CNN —
The US Air Force has tested a hypersonic cruise missile in the Pacific for the first time, in what analysts say is a signal to China that Washington still competes in a weapons arena where many perceive Beijing to have a distinct advantage.
On March 17, a B-52 bomber flying out of Andersen Air Force Base on the island of Guam fired “a full prototype operational hypersonic missile,” an Air Force spokesperson confirmed in a statement to CNN.
The test of the hypersonic weapon, officially called the All-Up-Round AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), was conducted at the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, almost 1,600 miles (2,600 kilometers) to the east of Guam, the statement said.
Previous ARRW tests have been conducted off the US mainland.
The ARRW consists of a rocket booster motor and the hypersonic glide vehicle, which carries a conventional warhead.
It is “intended to attack high-value, time-sensitive, land-based targets,” a 2021 Defense Department document says.
Hypersonic glide vehicles travel at speeds greater than Mach 5, or approximately 4,000 miles per hour, making them difficult to detect and intercept in time. They can also maneuver and vary altitude, allowing them to evade current missile defense systems.
US officials have previously acknowledged that China and Russia have pulled ahead in the development of hypersonics.
China has been testing hypersonic glide vehicles that can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads since 2014, according to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, a non-partisan lobbying group.
A US Air Force general said in 2021 that China had tested a hypersonic glide vehicle weapon that “went around the world,” while Russia fired a Zircon hypersonic cruise missile against Ukraine earlier this year, according to a Ukrainian government agency.
North Korea also claims to be developing hypersonic weapons. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday that leader Kim Jong Un watched the test of a new engine for an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon on Tuesday.
Speculation that the US would test a hypersonic missile in the Pacific emerged in late February, when a B-52 carrying the weapon arrived on Guam for what a news release called “hypersonic weapon familiarization training.”
Analysts said before the test that its presence was intended to be seen in Beijing.
“This test is intended to send a clear message to Beijing, namely that Washington remains steadfast in reinforcing its strategic posture in the Pacific, even amidst competing global challenges,” said Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the nonpartisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
“Of course, one US test won’t shift China’s hypersonic trajectory, nor will it resolve serious concerns regarding China’s perceived hypersonic edge,” Singleton said.
“But, it reaffirms that the US is not just an observer in the hypersonic domain, it’s a formidable player, and one committed to matching pace with China and Russia.”
The Air Force did not give any specifics on the test, such as how fast or how far the ARRW flew or whether it hit a target.
Rather, it said only that lessons were learned.
“The Air Force gained valuable insights into the capabilities of this new, cutting-edge technology,” the statement said.
It added that the trial “improved our test and evaluation capabilities for continued development of advanced hypersonic systems.” But the future for the ARRW model is uncertain, with Sunday’s test expected to be its last.
Last March, Air Force leaders told a congressional hearing that there were no plans to procure ARRWs for combat use.
The Air Force requested $150 million for ARRWs in fiscal year 2024; however, the National Defense Authorization Act did not authorize any funding for the program, according to a February report from the Congressional Research Service.
But Singleton said it may be too early to write off the ARRW.
“Signs suggest the Defense Department may be reconsidering its stance on the ARRW program, hinting at a potential revival in light of China and Russia’s hypersonic strides,” he said.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Dale White told the House Armed Service Committee last week that “future ARRW production decisions ‘are pending final analysis of all flight test data,’” according to a report in from Air and Space Forces magazine.
The last tests of the ARRW occurred in August and October of 2023, but the Air Force gave few details of what was accomplished. The first successful test of the system occurred in December 2022.
​

MARCH 19th , 2024 ~ Navy requesting big boost in funding for HALO air-launched ‘hypersonic’ missile

The service is requesting much more money for its Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare Weapon Increment II compared to previous projections.
Navy requesting big boost in funding for HALO air-launched ‘hypersonic’ missile DefenseScoop
Illustration of a hypersonic missile (Getty Images)
The Navy is planning for much higher investments in its Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) Weapon Increment II program in the coming years compared to previous projections, according to newly released budget justification documents.
The next-generation missile, also known as the hypersonic air-launched OASuW (HALO), is intended to be carried by aircraft carrier-based fighter jets such as the Super Hornet with the capability of sinking enemy ships.
The technology will include “a carrier-suitable, higher-speed, longer-range, air-launched weapon system providing superior Anti-Surface Warfare capabilities” that will “address advanced threats from engagement distances that allow the Navy to operate in, and control, contested battle space in littoral waters and Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) environments,” per the new budget justification books.
Although the name of the weapon suggests it will be hypersonic, it might not actually cross that threshold and meet the traditional definition of that term with regard to velocity, according to the Navy’s program executive officer for unmanned aviation and strike weapons.
“From a speed perspective, the hypersonics is a little bit of a misnomer [for HALO]. We’re not actually that concerned about Mach 5. It’s about distance and time — can I close the range that we want as quickly as possible … It’s going to be probably in the high Mach 4-plus category as far as its peak speed. But we’re really focused on, can I close distance at speed, potentially, to the point where [in-flight target update] is not required,” Rear Adm. Stephen Tedford said during a briefing at last year’s Sea-Air-Space conference hosted by the Navy League.
The service is requesting $179 million in fiscal 2025 for research, development, test and evaluation funding for the project — much more than the $99 million that previous budget plans anticipated.
The Navy is also planning to spend $197 million in fiscal 2026, $177 million in 2027, $167 million in 2028 and $147 million in 2029 on RDT&E for the initiative.
By comparison, spending projections released last year anticipated $83 million in 2026, $85 million in 2027 and $86 million in 2028 for RDT&E of HALO. Funding projections for fiscal 2029 were not included in the budget justification documents released last year because they fell outside the five-year planning period covered by those books.
In order to counter evolving “near-peer” threats, HALO has been “accelerated” to achieve early operational capability in fiscal 2029, according to the new justification documents. The Navy requested $96 million for the program in fiscal 2024. The increase proposed for 2025 would support a transition from a middle-tier acquisition program to a major capability acquisition effort at Milestone B.
“This transition will allow for Early Operational Capability (EOC) in FY 2029,” per the justification books.
Naval Air Systems Command previously awarded two contracts to Raytheon Missiles and Defense and Lockheed Martin in 2023, with a total value of $116 million, for initial development work on the HALO technology.
An engineering and manufacturing development contract is scheduled to be awarded in fiscal 2025, according to the justification documents. Subsystem critical design reviews, the process of acquiring long lead material, and qualification test events are also expected to begin.
A Milestone C production decision is expected in fiscal 2027.
The new budget justification books include a line item that appears to indicate planned procurement funding for HALO beginning in fiscal 2027. Projected funding under that line item includes $59 million in 2027, $98 million in 2028 and $157 million in 2029.

Given article also posted here by Geldvos ~ MARCH 4th, 2024 ~ Hypersonic Hegemony: Niobium and the Western Hemisphere’s Role in the U.S.-China Power Struggle Hypersonic Hegemony: Niobium and the Western Hemisphere’s Role in the U.S.-China Power Struggle (csis.org)

Photo: RHJ/Adobe Stock

Introduction

In the evolving landscape of global defense, the arms race has metamorphosed from a contest of nuclear might to one of unparalleled speed. Hypersonic weapons (capable of exceeding five times the speed of sound), promise to revolutionize modern warfare.
China's strides in the hypersonic field are a manifestation of its broader strategic intentions and underscore its drive toward technological and military preeminence. This journey toward mastering hypersonic technology is not merely for show; it is about redefining the global balance of military power.
A successful deployment of these weapons would enable China to redefine the term “first-strike advantage.” Such a capability is not merely about striking first; it is about striking in a manner that leaves the opponent minimal time or capacity to react, effectively nullifying their defensive postures. This introduces a dangerous paradigm wherein the traditional cushion of time provided by early warning systems is drastically reduced. For the United States, this might mean that even with the world's most advanced detection systems, the window to act could be so minimal that it might be rendered ineffective. As the United States and China jostle for dominance in this arena, the strategic significance of an elemental material, niobium, emerges as a pivotal concern, and with it, China’s rising dominance in the Western Hemisphere’s mining sector.

Niobium: The Aerospace Marvel

Vacuum-grade niobium’s role in aerospace is not a newfound revelation. Its unparalleled resilience against extreme thermal stresses, withstanding temperatures over 2,400 degrees Celsius, renders it indispensable for critical components in hypersonic vehicles. Beyond its inherent properties, niobium’s pivotal role lies in its use for crafting heat-resistant superalloys essential for hypersonic missiles and the broader aerospace sector. Its low density compared to other refractory metals contributes to a high strength-to-weight ratio, which is essential for reducing the weight of aerospace components. This reduction in weight directly impacts fuel efficiency and payload capacity, two critical factors in aerospace design. For example, companies like SpaceX and Hermeus depend on niobium C103 for their spacecrafts, which require extremely high temperatures that surpass that of other superalloys.
For decades, niobium has played a pivotal role in the U.S. aerospace industry, with its notable use in the innovative designs of the iconic Gemini and Apollo programs of the 1960s and 70s. However, despite its significance, the United States depends entirely on niobium imports, with no substantial domestic mining since 1959. This reliance introduces a severe risk to its supply chain. Of the estimated 8,800 metric tons imported annually in 2022, a significant majority comes from Brazil (66 percent) and Canada (25 percent). This heavy reliance on just two primary sources—both neighbors of the United States in the Western Hemisphere—exposes the United States to considerable national security and economic vulnerabilities. The situation becomes even more precarious considering China’s dominant position in the niobium sector and its growing footprint in the hemisphere.
China’s Stake in Brazil’s Mineral Monopoly
Brazil dominated global niobium production in 2020, accounting for over 91 percent of production. With reserves estimated at 842 million metric tons, Brazil produces roughly 120,000 metric tons annually. Brazil’s high production comes from large mines such as Araxá and Catalão, with Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) controlling 75 percent of Brazil’s output.
China has recognized the potential of niobium for over a decade. In 2011, a consortium of five Chinese companies acquired a 15 percent stake in CBMM. This engagement intensified in 2016 when China Molybdenum Co. Ltd. (now known only as CMOC) secured ownership of the Chapadão and Boa Vista mines, further strengthening China's position in the niobium market.
The importance of niobium was further highlighted in the Brazilian political arena in 2018. Then presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro emphasized niobium's role in Brazil's “economic independence.” Despite Bolsonaro's campaign rhetoric focusing on safeguarding this critical commodity from foreign control and advocating for its national governance, Chinese influence in the Brazilian niobium sector continued to grow. By 2020, Chinese entities controlled approximately 26 percent of Brazil's niobium production. This control not only ensures China's preferential access and influence over pricing dynamics in the niobium supply chain, but also positions it advantageously in a global context.
China managed to maintain and even strengthen its position at the subnational level under Bolsonaro. CMOC for instance provided $1.2 million in Covid-19 aid to the city of Catalão, demonstrating China's strategic engagement beyond mere commercial interests.
China’s influence over Brazil’s niobium production conforms to a pattern of growing ownership and sway over the regional mining industry, a trend with substantial environmental, political, and security implications. Such tactics could force nations into making diplomatic compromises, ceding trade advantages, or grappling with economic dilemmas, thereby solidifying China's geopolitical standing. The United States is not immune to this exposure; in 2022 the U.S. Geological Survey identified niobium as the second most critical of 50 minerals, falling behind only gallium in its criticality to U.S. national security and economic growth.

Defense Implications

China's hypersonic resolve has been remarkable. By 2018, it had conducted over 20 times as many tests as the United States. According to the Pentagon, the United States is still lagging. This hypersonic prowess, combined with China's stranglehold on niobium, places the United States in a perilous position.
The strategic importance of niobium in next-generation defense systems cannot be overstated. As the U.S. military and its defense contractors increasingly rely on niobium-based superalloys to produce a wide range of equipment, from aircraft components to hypersonic missile systems, any disruption in the niobium supply chain could have significant repercussions.
Overall, China's growing influence and control over critical mineral supply chains poses a distinct challenge. Under the Biden administration, the United States and the European Union placed export controls and restrictions on strategic and critical minerals to curb China’s dominance in artificial intelligence and semiconductors. In retaliation, China imposed their own limitations on gallium, germanium, and graphite throughout 2023. A recent analysis by CSIS highlighted that China controls 90 percent of global gallium supplies, 90 percent of graphite, and 60 percent of germanium, all critical to the production of chips and electric vehicle batteries. The critical mineral supply chain has arrived at the forefront of strategic competition between the West and the People’s Republic of China.
China’s grip on the production, distribution, and pricing of niobium presents another layer of complexity: manipulating niobium’s availability to other nations. For the United States, already grappling with the challenges of overdependence on external sources for critical minerals, such a disruption could translate into significant production delays. The consequences could be serious: slower production of critical defense equipment, increased costs due to the potential need for alternative materials, and a cascading effect on existing machinery's maintenance and upgrade cycles. In this highly complex environment where timely responses to emerging threats are vital, these delays could hinder the United States' ability to promptly deploy or develop necessary defense systems.

U.S. Countermeasures

Facing such formidable challenges, the United States cannot afford to remain a passive observer. Safeguarding its strategic interests and maintaining its global position demands a comprehensive and multifaceted critical mineral strategy, particularly in securing niobium supplies.

Including Brazil in the MSP

Incorporating Brazil into the 13-nation Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) could significantly fortify the global niobium supply chain. The MSP represents a concerted multinational endeavor to develop environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and bolster investments in critical mineral supply chains, an initiative that aligns well with the strategic interests of both Brazil and the broader international community. Brazil’s inclusion would make it the first Latin American country to enter the partnership, signaling its regional leadership and increase in international stature. The integration of Brazil into this partnership is particularly strategic, considering its substantial niobium reserves, in addition to its other critical mineral deposits. This move would add a robust layer of security against potential supply disruptions.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration, with its strong emphasis on ESG standards, is likely to find the MSP's principles congruent with its policy priorities. The MSP’s emphasis on elevating global standards in these areas could resonate with Lula’s progressive agenda, potentially making Brazil’s participation both beneficial and attractive.
Furthermore, Brazil's inclusion in the MSP would facilitate its adherence to a framework that advocates for the diversification and stabilization of mineral supply chains. This alignment could be instrumental in mitigating China’s dominant influence in the niobium market. By joining the MSP, Brazil would not only assert its role in the global mineral economy but also contribute to a more balanced and less vulnerable critical mineral supply landscape, including niobium.

Diversification of Niobium Sources

Diversifying niobium sources is a critical strategic concern. The current overreliance on a limited number of suppliers presents a significant vulnerability in the supply chain. This is not merely a matter of economic convenience but a pressing national security issue. The Elk Creek project in Nebraska represents a commendable step toward addressing this vulnerability domestically. This initiative exemplifies how investment in local resources can contribute to a more resilient supply chain. Placing more emphasis on domestic production, the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act calls for domestic manufacturing of critical minerals, and “encourages DOD to review the need to utilize Defense Production Act authorities to establish domestic processing capacity of niobium, tantalum, and scandium.”

However, to comprehensively mitigate the risks associated with niobium supply, the United States should extend its strategy beyond domestic projects. Engaging in international partnerships, especially with Canadian, African, and European nations that have niobium reserves, is crucial.

Canada’s significant niobium reserves stands as an ideal partner to strengthen North American supply security. The geographical proximity of Canada to the United States offers logistical advantages, reducing transportation costs and environmental impact. Additionally, the strong political and economic ties between the United States and Canada could facilitate smoother bilateral agreements and joint ventures in niobium exploration and development.

Africa’s rich mineral resources, and Europe’s advanced mining technologies and regulatory frameworks, offer promising avenues for collaboration. These partnerships could lead to the exploration and development of new niobium sources, thus diversifying the global supply chain.

Stockpiling and Strategic Reserves

The practice of stockpiling and maintaining strategic reserves of strategic minerals serves as a crucial safeguard during times of geopolitical unrest or supply chain interruptions. Experts suggest that with its existing reserves of critical minerals, the United States may face challenges in sustaining a protracted conflict with China. The National Defense Stockpile (NDS), designed to support the nation's needs for up to four years, is perceived by some as insufficient for the United States to execute its strategic military objectives effectively. Proactive measures to accumulate substantial reserves of niobium and other strategic minerals are imperative. While in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 Congress appropriated $218.5 million for total NDS acquisitions, it remains at an unsatisfactory level to support the nation’s needs. Congress should place more effort in supporting the NDS in the future. Strategic stockpiling must be revitalized to Cold War-era levels so that the United States maintains its capability to meet both economic and defense production demands, even under challenging global scenarios.

Conclusion

In the grand chessboard of defense geopolitics, niobium has emerged as a piece of paramount importance. The intertwining of mineral control and technological advancements underscores the multifaceted nature of modern security threats. For the United States, addressing this dual challenge is not just about catching up in the hypersonic race or diversifying niobium sources, but about reimagining its strategic approach in a complex global landscape—one where the Western Hemisphere takes center stage. Recognizing and mitigating these vulnerabilities will be crucial in ensuring U.S. national security in the face of strategic competition. The stakes are high, and the game is evolving; proactive measures today will dictate the balance of power tomorrow.

*****SEE NIOCORP/JIM SIM'S Responses given on Jan. 3rd, 2024 - to relevant questions asked Dec. 18th, 2023

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****SEE ALSO PREVIOUS LINK TO HYPERSONICS & LOCKHEED MARTIN! NOTE NIOCORP LATER PRESENTED AT THEIR MINE TO MAGNET WORKSHOP!!!! FOLLOWING THE DOTS!

(8) #NIOICORP-CRITICAL MINERALS FOR HYPERSONICS UPDATE EARLY 2024 & a bit more... "A nice read with coffee!".... : NIOCORP_MINE (reddit.com)

NIOCORP~ Attending the Mine-to-Magnet Workshop sponsored by Lockheed Martin on January 16-17, 2024: (&Niocorp Presenting on Wed. the 17th)

Mine-to-Magnet Workshop (ndia.org)

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The Defense Industrial Base (DIB) supply chains for rare earth element (REE) magnets are in a transition phase. Supported by U.S. and partner nations, new sources of supply from raw materials to magnets are being developed around the globe. By statute, effective January 1, 2026, restrictions on REE magnets will follow the supply chain to the mining tier. Additionally, as early as June 2025, suppliers may be required to provide the full provenance of all REE magnets.
This day and a half workshop will gather stakeholders from across the supply chain and U.S. Government to discuss challenges and opportunities in this critical supply chain. A partnership between Government and companies within the DIB is required to accomplish changes in REE supply chains. The provenance requirements for REE magnets will be a significant challenge, and new technologies and new approaches to organizing the market will be required to accomplish this requirement. The Workshop will focus on the following topics and questions:
  • What actions is the U.S. Government taking to incentivize new sources of supply throughout the supply chain?
  • What tiers of the supply chain are highest risk for not being fully established prior to the sourcing restriction implementation deadline?
  • What solutions would enable supply chain provenance to the mining level, and can these solutions be implemented by the June 23rd, 2025 provenance target date?
  • What is the status of Government and Industry efforts to develop substitute magnets and new technologies?
  • What additional support does the nascent U.S. and friendly nation rare earth element industry need to grow and thrive in the long-term?
Additional InformationRecently proposed Defense Acquisition Regulation Supplemental (DFARS) sourcing requirements (DFARS Case 2021-D015) have set a deadline of January 1st, 2026 for the entire DIB REE magnet supply chains, from mining to magnet production, to be produced outside of the covered countries of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the Russian Federation, the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Additionally, Section 857 of James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23 NDAA) (Public Law 117-263, signed December 23, 2022) contains provisions requiring disclosure by defense contractors of the sources of supply for rare earth elements (REE) and strategic and critical materials (SCM) within permanent magnets used in defense systems. These provenance sourcing requirements will go into effect as early as June 23, 2025. As the Department of Defense**[1], Department of Commerce[2], and Department of Energy[3]** and other government agencies have previously written, the PRC is the dominate global producer for all-tiers off the REE magnet supply chain. Therefore, the DIB migrating to REE supply chains entirely separate from the PRC is less than straightforward.
DIB-Defense Industrial Base - (DFARS Case 2021-D015)dfars.pdf (osd.mil)

FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS ABOVE:

GIVEN: NioCorp’s Elk Creek Project Confirmed as the Second Largest Indicated-Or-Better Rare Earth Resource in the U.S. & THAT THE LAST 25% of NIOBIUM PRODUCTION IS STILL UP FOR GRABS!!! SINCE APRIL 2020 (with a U.S. Steel Company) See Below:

Large Integrated US Based Steel Producer Signs LOI with NioCorp for Ferroniobium NioCorp Developments Ltd.

https://preview.redd.it/dk3gxnmrk2qc1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=c6807126d372e00d3b6f2058d7772048c048931b

https://www.niocorp.com/niocorps-elk-creek-project-confirmed-as-the-second-largest-indicated-or-better-rare-earth-resource-in-the-u-s/

AS THE SECOND LARGEST, "PROVEN" REE RESOURCE IN THE U.S. ,Niocorp has continued to execute on their plan. The Elk Creek Mine has numerous studies posted by the USGS & Private entities (Some very recent 2023). Waiting for several catalysts to conclude i.e. - including the Final F.S. (early 2024) & Finance $$$$.

NOTE: TO DATE AS OF MARCH 23rd, 2024, ~ONLY THE CIRCLED RED PORTION (of 7 square kilometers-) HAS BEEN CALCULATED INTO THE RESOURCE! WE ALL ARE WAITING FOR A FINAL~ EARLY 2024 FEASIBILITY STUDY! ~ WITH ALL THE TONNAGES & GOODIES AT PRODUCTION SCALE:

(NIOBIUM, TITANIUM (Both with Improved recovery rates & NEW OXIDES), Plus SCANDIUM, RARE EARTHS (TONNAGES will finally be disclosed!) & THE BYPRODUCTS CaCo3 & MgCO3 & some IRON SUFF TOO!)*

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Star Trek: Picard - Engage! - Episode 3 finale (youtube.com)

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"STILL WAITING TO ENGAGE WITH MANY!" LET'S GO NIOCORP!!!!

CHICO
submitted by Chico237 to NIOCORP_MINE [link] [comments]

2024.03.22 18:48 pr-mth-s in the news: ''Anthropocene unit of geological time is rejected". Some geologists say "the vote is ‘null and void'"

BBC version of the story. I searched for someone not happy and found 'Climate and Capitalism, whose take is expresed by their graphic: a thumbprint on the world.
We are still waiting for full details, but it appears that the “vote” was a maneuver organized by a group of conservatives and ecomodernists who have long opposed any recognition of a recent qualitative change in the Earth System. The anti-Anthropocene current, which seems to have supporters in the leadership of the International Union of Geological Sciences, forced through an invalid ballot and then announced the result to the Times, in violation of the IUGS’s statutes.
Some are challenging.
[The] Chair and Vice-Chair of the Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS) ... have declared that “the alleged voting has been performed in contravention of the Statutes” and asked the IUGS to initiate “a procedure to annul the putative vote."
This dispute is really about global warming but in this article the main cited geologic argument is a layer of sediment around the world from nuclear bomb testing. which has nothing to do with GHGs.
The base of the Anthropocene is clearly identified in the proposed stratotype section at Crawford Lake, Canada, by a sharp upturn in plutonium concentrations in annually laminated sediments deposited in 1952 CE, coincident with the beginning of thermonuclear bomb testing. This marker level has been traced with great precision in strata around the world including at the three proposed Standard Auxiliary Boundary Stratotypes (SABS) and other reference sections.
submitted by pr-mth-s to climateskeptics [link] [comments]

2024.03.17 14:08 LastWeekInCollapse Last Week in Collapse: March 10-16, 2024

Bird flu, famine, heat waves, War, inflation, AI dangers, prions, desperation, terrorism, and a death from bubonic plague. A full slate of disasters.
Last Week in Collapse: March 10-16, 2024
This is Last Week in Collapse, a weekly newsletter compiling some of the most important, timely, useful, soul-crushing, ironic, stunning, or otherwise must-see/can’t-look-away moments in Collapse.
This is the 116th newsletter. You can find the March 3-9 edition here if you missed it last week. You can also receive these posts (with images) every Sunday in your email inbox with Substack.
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The European Environment Agency (EEA) released its first ever Climate Risk Assessment—its 40-page executive summary summarizes an unedited 425-page full report. In short, prevention & adaptation are falling far short of what would be necessary to resist global climate change. Particular urgent & dangerous risks highlighted in the summary include: aquatic ecosystem collapse, southern European carbon sinks, heat stress (there were over 60,000 “premature deaths” across Europe in 2022), shrinking crop production (particularly in southern Europe), rivecoastal flooding, wildfires (especially in southern Europe), insurance markets, “European solidarity mechanisms,” and water scarcities (predominantly in southern Europe). “Extreme heat, drought, wildfires, and flooding, as experienced in recent years, will worsen in Europe even under optimistic global warming scenarios and affect living conditions throughout the continent.” No doubt other continents will face many of the same problems.
Winter storms are coming later than usual to India—and, when they arrive in the late spring, are fiercer than ever before. The lack of snowpack, which gradually melts and provides consistent irrigation water through the spring, has been replaced by sudden, voluminous floods which do not ration water as well. “The rapid warming of the Tibetan Plateau…[is] fueling a stronger jet stream that powers more frequent and intense storms….[while] the jet stream is increasingly lingering at southerly latitudes later into spring and summer, allowing more storms to strike North India after the winter snow season.”
Temperature records were broken in West & South Africa. A number of Latin American locations have also broken March records for all-time heat, including 46.5 °C (116 °F) in part of central Mexico. Hobart, Tasmania’s capital, saw its hottest night in 112 years. Yet scientists are allegedly in dispute over whether these anomalies are really beyond climate predictions, according to the Guardian.
Shell Oil is backtracking on its sustainability pledges in a 33-page Energy Transition Report 2024. It appears as if they’ve entirely abandoned their 2035 target for emissions and are leaning further into LNG extraction, and away from renewable electricity production. Last year, Shell abandoned its carbon offsets effort to refocus on its core market: fossil fuels.
Mexico City’s water shortage worsens. Meanwhile, England just had its wettest 18 months since records began 188 years ago. A study on Scotland’s 125,000+ km of rivers (77,000+ miles) concluded that river temperatures are warming—with downstream effects on industry and ecology.
Scientists are appealing the decision regarding the proposed Anthropocene epoch, which was rejected two weeks ago by a committee of geologists. Other geologists discovered reserves of gas hydrates off the Philippines coast, which may be used for energy (and CO2) production. Meanwhile, the American EPA concluded that the methane emissions from the United States are actually about triple the government’s projections…
England’s largest rhododendron bush flowered a month earlier than usual, as a result of record warm temperatures last month. Trees are growing across the Brooks Range in northern Alaska where once there was frozen earth; other trees in the area have shown incredible growth in recent years due to warming temperatures.
A study in Nature Communications determined that increasing aerosol emissions out of South/East Asia has been contributing to the slowdown of the AMOC for about 30 years. Meanwhile, the director of NOAA has urged further examining the potential of geoengineering as part of a strategy to stalling/mitigating the effects of climate change.
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A man in New Mexico died of the bubonic plague, Yersinia pestis, last week, marking the first plague death in the States since 2020. Researchers are attempting to track down a possible source of infection.
The scale of Zambia’s cholera outbreak is reversing decades of progress made in the region to stymie the deadly bacterial disease. The pandemic is compounded by rising malaria cases, and the strain these illnesses are having on the entire healthcare system, which is understaffed and lacking equipment & medicine.
Dengue fever is ripping across Brazil, following its conquest of Peru, Paraguay, and Argentina, spreading faster than ever before. Vaccines are in incredibly short supply, and, although production is scaling up, vaccines are expected to remain in high demand five years from now. Some countries, like Argentina, are selling the dengue vaccine (which lasts for ~6 years) for about $45 USD—one quarter of the nation’s minimum monthly salary.
The so-called “Man in the Iron Lung,” who was dependent on on the device after contracting polio 72 years ago, was killed by COVID last week; he was 78. Some scientists believe we are close to eradicating polio after 19 weeks of no new infections…It has now been one year since a case of polio was detected in New York state’s wastewater.
Across the United States, Long COVID symptoms are spiking; the CDC estimates about 7% of Americans have symptoms. What do y’all suppose the real figure is? An Australian health official claimed that we should stop using the term “Long COVID” because its symptoms aren’t so different from post-flu….although that’s not at all true. Depending on when you consider the official start of the pandemic, it has been 4 years since our collective COVID emergency took off, and 4 years since the COVID stock market crash.
South Georgia, a British island in the far South Atlantic Ocean, has recorded 10 cases of avian flu among its penguins, of which there are several different species. The virus was expected to make landfall on the historic breeding & gathering point for some time, and scientists are concerned that H5N1 will spread rapidly among the crowded birds—and perhaps beyond.
Cocoa prices hit record highs, at $7000 per ton; chocolate prices are expected to continue rising. Reuters reports that the number of American preppers has doubled since 2017, and diversified amid fears of political unrest. Spain and Italy’s appetite for Argentinian grain (for their animals) is driving deforestation and illegal logging.
“Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics.” China’s shipbuilding industry—for commercial ships—is far and away leading the world, spelling concern for the U.S.-led order, which secures the safety for most ocean-faring trade. Last year, the U.S. produced 10 ships (less than 1% of global ship production), while China produced 1,000+. The vast majority of port cranes are also manufactured in China, and the global logistics software is run by China. More ships = more consumption.
Bengaluru (Bangalore, greater pop: 24M), India is facing a water shortage amid a water dispute with a neighboring state. Parts of at least 12 West/Central African countries have lost internet after critical subsea cables were disturbed. Tension over TikTok, arguably the world’s most popular app, may lead to its forcible sale or prohibition in a handful of countries.
UN personnel are warning of “catastrophic hunger” coming to Sudan this spring. Save The Children claims that over 220,000 people, mostly children, will die if their hunger is not alleviated. Famine is also growing in Gaza, and in Haiti too. “Famine, Disease, and War” cause most deaths in Collapse, wrote one recently deceased collapsenik.
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The global arms market is experiencing change, and France is catching up with many of the world’s strongest nations. The Top 5 arms exports are now: the United States, France, Russia, China, and Germany. Russia and Germany have seen double-digit declines in arms sales. Ukraine is currently unsurprisingly the world’s largest recipient of arms. Explore the searchable database here if you’re interested.
North Korea has rolled out a new tank which it first unveiled in 2020. Kim Jong-Un has also ordered the soldiers to prepare for War—not for the first time. How many times will he say it before something happens?
Artificial Intelligence is posing a growing threat to national security—says a new report from the U.S. State Department. The full, 284-page report is available only upon request, but a 13-page executive summary is readily available.
“The recent explosion of progress in advanced artificial intelligence (AI) has brought great opportunities, but it is also creating entirely new categories of weapons of mass destruction-like (WMD-like) and WMD-enabling catastrophic risks….The risks associated with these developments are global in scope, have deeply technical origins, and are evolving quickly. As a result, policymakers face a diminishing opportunity to introduce technically informed safeguards that can balance these considerations and ensure advanced AI is developed and adopted responsibly….competitive dynamics risk triggering an AGI arms race and increase the likelihood of global- and WMD-scale fatal accidents, interstate conflict, and escalation.” -excerpts from the executive summary
A controversial citizenship bill in India which excludes Muslims is nearing its passage into law, with the result that some politicians are calling for protests. (14% of India is currently Muslim.) Meanwhile, Sudan’s government’s army has retaken the TV & radio broadcasting station held by the insurgents for 11 months. Another mass children kidnapping event in Nigeria; the gunmen seek ransom payments. UNICEF reports that, while the percent of girls suffering from female genital mutilation (FGM) has dropped considerably in many countries over the last 30 years, there is a trend to cut girls at younger and younger ages, and the number of overall victims continues to rise.
Details are emerging on how the United States intends to construct a floating pier in Gaza, so that relief organizations can deliver two million meals per day in the besieged territory. Some aid is already arriving by sea. Some officials claim that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war. Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that now shelters 1.4M people in Gaza—some two thirds of the total population—is the target of Israel’s latest offensive, and perhaps its last major site in Gaza. American politicians seem to be reconsidering supplying weapons to Israel if the Rafah offensive yields substantial civilian suffering, and the War continues to divide European nations. Analysts believe a regional conflict is more likely to be triggered by Hezbollah than from Gaza or the Houthis. Ramadan has begun, a ceasefire has not arrived, and the lingering threat of unexploded ordinance aggravates the ongoing traumatizing bombardments.
Violent riots in Nigeria targeted grain warehouses across the country, according to reports. Last month, seven people were killed in a stampede at a Lagos auction selling off heaps of stolen rice. China is blaming India for raising tensions by stationing 10,000 more Indian soldiers near its Himalayan border.
Afghan terrorists detonated a vehicle at a Pakistani military/border outpost, killing a few. A 12-hour battle in Mogadishu by al-Shabaab killed 3 soldiers and injured 27 before all five attackers were slain. Violence in eastern DRC is chasing even more people to Goma, a city already once of the most dangerous in the world.
Russian strikes in Odesa killed 20, injuring 70+. France, Germany, and Poland agreed to supply more weapons to Ukraine, while Greece is arming Ukraine more following a missile strike two weeks ago near the visiting Greek PM. The UN released a report a few weeks ago breaking down how tens of thousands of civilian casualties (killed & wounded) were caused in Ukraine.
NATO’s largest drill in 30+ years is happening in Europe while a Chinese-Russian-Iranian drill occurs in the Gulf of Oman. The U.S Intelligence Community (IC) released its “Annual Threat Assessment” Report for 2024; its 41 pages lack a single graphic, but are loaded with interpretations of global threats in a fragile world. Denmark is boosting defense spending and conscripting women.
“An ambitious but anxious China, a confrontational Russia, some regional powers, such as Iran, and more capable non-state actors are challenging longstanding rules of the international system as well as U.S. primacy within it. Simultaneously, new technologies, fragilities in the public health sector, and environmental changes are more frequent, often have global impact and are harder to forecast….Economic strain is further stoking this instability. Around the world, multiple states are facing rising, and in some cases unsustainable, debt burdens, economic spillovers from the war in Ukraine, and increased cost and output losses from extreme weather events even as they continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. While global agricultural food commodity prices retreated from their 2022 peak, domestic food price inflation remains high in many countries and food security in many countries remains vulnerable to economic and geopolitical shocks…..The fields of AI and biotechnology, in particular, are rapidly advancing, and convergences among various fields of science and technology probably will result in further significant breakthroughs. The accelerating effects of climate change are placing more of the world’s population, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, at greater risk from extreme weather, food and water insecurity, and humanitarian disasters, fueling migration flows and increasing the risks of future pandemics as pathogens exploit the changing environment.” -excerpts from the foreword of the report
Kenya is once again suspending its plan to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti, leading a stabilization mission in the failed state which has now seen its Prime Minister resign—leaving a complete vacuum of political authority. (All Haitian senators had previously left in January 2023, 18 months after their President was assassinated & never replaced.) A motley crew of warlords and gang bosses now jockeys for power, resources, and even legitimacy, against several thousand police officers, criminals, and terrorized citizens who may be claimed as prizes—or activated into action—in the panicked and chaotic violence. The Dominican Republic is deporting Haitians back to Haiti amid the sprawling mayhem. The state of emergency seems unending.
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Select comments/threads from the subreddit last week suggest:
-The American Dream is dead, and in its place is rising a new nightmare. This comment concerning the skyrocketing prices of American homes summarizes the article’s study in plain language. Most people realize that they will never own a home in their lifetime, and are considering climate change in their house-hunting process.
-Prices have risen considerably since 2022—in the United States, at least. This {removed} post compared the prices of 10 WalMart items with their current prices, concluding that prices have risen about 75% on average.
-Americans are being scammed by the system, but it may be easier to pretend you haven’t been ripped off than to do something about it. This weekly observation from Texas claims that the United States has never in modern history been more impotent, less hopeful, and as beholden to the defense industry than today. Debt, COVID, and inequality are easier to ignore than to confront.
-Prions are a stealth threat which are probably guaranteed to worsen. This doomy thread, its associated article, and its comments explain Prions 101, and how these non-living entities can survive years, and move up from the soil into plants…
Got any feedback, questions, comments, complaints, upvotes, threats, directions to your doomstead, hugelkultur vlogs, rat stir fry recipes, etc.? Check out the Last Week in Collapse SubStack if you don’t want to check collapse every Sunday, you can receive this newsletter sent to your (or someone else’s) email inbox every weekend. What did I miss this week?
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2024.03.06 12:29 Geldvos Hypersonic Hegemony: Niobium and the Western Hemisphere’s Role in the U.S.-China Power Struggle

Article: Hypersonic Hegemony: Niobium and the Western Hemisphere’s Role in the U.S.-China Power Struggle (csis.org)
As shared by author on LinkedIn: Post Feed LinkedIn

Introduction

In the evolving landscape of global defense, the arms race has metamorphosed from a contest of nuclear might to one of unparalleled speed. Hypersonic weapons (capable of exceeding five times the speed of sound), promise to revolutionize modern warfare.
China's strides in the hypersonic field are a manifestation of its broader strategic intentions and underscore its drive toward technological and military preeminence. This journey toward mastering hypersonic technology is not merely for show; it is about redefining the global balance of military power.
A successful deployment of these weapons would enable China to redefine the term “first-strike advantage.” Such a capability is not merely about striking first; it is about striking in a manner that leaves the opponent minimal time or capacity to react, effectively nullifying their defensive postures. This introduces a dangerous paradigm wherein the traditional cushion of time provided by early warning systems is drastically reduced. For the United States, this might mean that even with the world's most advanced detection systems, the window to act could be so minimal that it might be rendered ineffective. As the United States and China jostle for dominance in this arena, the strategic significance of an elemental material, niobium, emerges as a pivotal concern, and with it, China’s rising dominance in the Western Hemisphere’s mining sector.

Niobium: The Aerospace Marvel

Vacuum-grade niobium’s role in aerospace is not a newfound revelation. Its unparalleled resilience against extreme thermal stresses, withstanding temperatures over 2,400 degrees Celsius, renders it indispensable for critical components in hypersonic vehicles. Beyond its inherent properties, niobium’s pivotal role lies in its use for crafting heat-resistant superalloys essential for hypersonic missiles and the broader aerospace sector. Its low density compared to other refractory metals contributes to a high strength-to-weight ratio, which is essential for reducing the weight of aerospace components. This reduction in weight directly impacts fuel efficiency and payload capacity, two critical factors in aerospace design. For example, companies like SpaceX and Hermeus depend on niobium C103 for their spacecrafts, which require extremely high temperatures that surpass that of other superalloys.
For decades, niobium has played a pivotal role in the U.S. aerospace industry, with its notable use in the innovative designs of the iconic Gemini and Apollo programs of the 1960s and 70s. However, despite its significance, the United States depends entirely on niobium imports, with no substantial domestic mining since 1959. This reliance introduces a severe risk to its supply chain. Of the estimated 8,800 metric tons imported annually in 2022, a significant majority comes from Brazil (66 percent) and Canada (25 percent). This heavy reliance on just two primary sources—both neighbors of the United States in the Western Hemisphere—exposes the United States to considerable national security and economic vulnerabilities. The situation becomes even more precarious considering China’s dominant position in the niobium sector and its growing footprint in the hemisphere.

China’s Stake in Brazil’s Mineral Monopoly

Brazil dominated global niobium production in 2020, accounting for over 91 percent of production. With reserves estimated at 842 million metric tons, Brazil produces roughly 120,000 metric tons annually. Brazil’s high production comes from large mines such as Araxá and Catalão, with Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) controlling 75 percent of Brazil’s output.
China has recognized the potential of niobium for over a decade. In 2011, a consortium of five Chinese companies acquired a 15 percent stake in CBMM. This engagement intensified in 2016 when China Molybdenum Co. Ltd. (now known only as CMOC) secured ownership of the Chapadão and Boa Vista mines, further strengthening China's position in the niobium market.
The importance of niobium was further highlighted in the Brazilian political arena in 2018. Then presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro emphasized niobium's role in Brazil's “economic independence.” Despite Bolsonaro's campaign rhetoric focusing on safeguarding this critical commodity from foreign control and advocating for its national governance, Chinese influence in the Brazilian niobium sector continued to grow. By 2020, Chinese entities controlled approximately 26 percent of Brazil's niobium production. This control not only ensures China's preferential access and influence over pricing dynamics in the niobium supply chain, but also positions it advantageously in a global context.
China managed to maintain and even strengthen its position at the subnational level under Bolsonaro. CMOC for instance provided $1.2 million in Covid-19 aid to the city of Catalão, demonstrating China's strategic engagement beyond mere commercial interests.
China’s influence over Brazil’s niobium production conforms to a pattern of growing ownership and sway over the regional mining industry, a trend with substantial environmental, political, and security implications. Such tactics could force nations into making diplomatic compromises, ceding trade advantages, or grappling with economic dilemmas, thereby solidifying China's geopolitical standing. The United States is not immune to this exposure; in 2022 the U.S. Geological Survey identified niobium as the second most critical of 50 minerals, falling behind only gallium in its criticality to U.S. national security and economic growth.

Defense Implications

China's hypersonic resolve has been remarkable. By 2018, it had conducted over 20 times as many tests as the United States. According to the Pentagon, the United States is still lagging. This hypersonic prowess, combined with China's stranglehold on niobium, places the United States in a perilous position.
The strategic importance of niobium in next-generation defense systems cannot be overstated. As the U.S. military and its defense contractors increasingly rely on niobium-based superalloys to produce a wide range of equipment, from aircraft components to hypersonic missile systems, any disruption in the niobium supply chain could have significant repercussions.
Overall, China's growing influence and control over critical mineral supply chains poses a distinct challenge. Under the Biden administration, the United States and the European Union placed export controls and restrictions on strategic and critical minerals to curb China’s dominance in artificial intelligence and semiconductors. In retaliation, China imposed their own limitations on gallium, germanium, and graphite throughout 2023. A recent analysis by CSIS highlighted that China controls 90 percent of global gallium supplies, 90 percent of graphite, and 60 percent of germanium, all critical to the production of chips and electric vehicle batteries. The critical mineral supply chain has arrived at the forefront of strategic competition between the West and the People’s Republic of China.
China’s grip on the production, distribution, and pricing of niobium presents another layer of complexity: manipulating niobium’s availability to other nations. For the United States, already grappling with the challenges of overdependence on external sources for critical minerals, such a disruption could translate into significant production delays. The consequences could be serious: slower production of critical defense equipment, increased costs due to the potential need for alternative materials, and a cascading effect on existing machinery's maintenance and upgrade cycles. In this highly complex environment where timely responses to emerging threats are vital, these delays could hinder the United States' ability to promptly deploy or develop necessary defense systems.

U.S. Countermeasures

Facing such formidable challenges, the United States cannot afford to remain a passive observer. Safeguarding its strategic interests and maintaining its global position demands a comprehensive and multifaceted critical mineral strategy, particularly in securing niobium supplies.
Including Brazil in the MSP
Incorporating Brazil into the 13-nation Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) could significantly fortify the global niobium supply chain. The MSP represents a concerted multinational endeavor to develop environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and bolster investments in critical mineral supply chains, an initiative that aligns well with the strategic interests of both Brazil and the broader international community. Brazil’s inclusion would make it the first Latin American country to enter the partnership, signaling its regional leadership and increase in international stature. The integration of Brazil into this partnership is particularly strategic, considering its substantial niobium reserves, in addition to its other critical mineral deposits. This move would add a robust layer of security against potential supply disruptions.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration, with its strong emphasis on ESG standards, is likely to find the MSP's principles congruent with its policy priorities. The MSP’s emphasis on elevating global standards in these areas could resonate with Lula’s progressive agenda, potentially making Brazil’s participation both beneficial and attractive.
Furthermore, Brazil's inclusion in the MSP would facilitate its adherence to a framework that advocates for the diversification and stabilization of mineral supply chains. This alignment could be instrumental in mitigating China’s dominant influence in the niobium market. By joining the MSP, Brazil would not only assert its role in the global mineral economy but also contribute to a more balanced and less vulnerable critical mineral supply landscape, including niobium.
Diversification of Niobium Sources
Diversifying niobium sources is a critical strategic concern. The current overreliance on a limited number of suppliers presents a significant vulnerability in the supply chain. This is not merely a matter of economic convenience but a pressing national security issue. The Elk Creek project in Nebraska represents a commendable step toward addressing this vulnerability domestically. This initiative exemplifies how investment in local resources can contribute to a more resilient supply chain. Placing more emphasis on domestic production, the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act calls for domestic manufacturing of critical minerals, and “encourages DOD to review the need to utilize Defense Production Act authorities to establish domestic processing capacity of niobium, tantalum, and scandium.”
However, to comprehensively mitigate the risks associated with niobium supply, the United States should extend its strategy beyond domestic projects. Engaging in international partnerships, especially with Canadian, African, and European nations that have niobium reserves, is crucial.
Canada’s significant niobium reserves stands as an ideal partner to strengthen North American supply security. The geographical proximity of Canada to the United States offers logistical advantages, reducing transportation costs and environmental impact. Additionally, the strong political and economic ties between the United States and Canada could facilitate smoother bilateral agreements and joint ventures in niobium exploration and development.
Africa’s rich mineral resources, and Europe’s advanced mining technologies and regulatory frameworks, offer promising avenues for collaboration. These partnerships could lead to the exploration and development of new niobium sources, thus diversifying the global supply chain.
Stockpiling and Strategic Reserves
The practice of stockpiling and maintaining strategic reserves of strategic minerals serves as a crucial safeguard during times of geopolitical unrest or supply chain interruptions. Experts suggest that with its existing reserves of critical minerals, the United States may face challenges in sustaining a protracted conflict with China. The National Defense Stockpile (NDS), designed to support the nation's needs for up to four years, is perceived by some as insufficient for the United States to execute its strategic military objectives effectively. Proactive measures to accumulate substantial reserves of niobium and other strategic minerals are imperative. While in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 Congress appropriated $218.5 million for total NDS acquisitions, it remains at an unsatisfactory level to support the nation’s needs. Congress should place more effort in supporting the NDS in the future. Strategic stockpiling must be revitalized to Cold War-era levels so that the United States maintains its capability to meet both economic and defense production demands, even under challenging global scenarios.

Conclusion

In the grand chessboard of defense geopolitics, niobium has emerged as a piece of paramount importance. The intertwining of mineral control and technological advancements underscores the multifaceted nature of modern security threats. For the United States, addressing this dual challenge is not just about catching up in the hypersonic race or diversifying niobium sources, but about reimagining its strategic approach in a complex global landscape—one where the Western Hemisphere takes center stage. Recognizing and mitigating these vulnerabilities will be crucial in ensuring U.S. national security in the face of strategic competition. The stakes are high, and the game is evolving; proactive measures today will dictate the balance of power tomorrow.
Guido L. Torres is Chief Operating Officer at the Irregular Warfare Initiative and a Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council. Laura Delgado López is a visiting fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. Ryan C. Berg is director of the CSIS Americas Program and head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative. Henry Ziemer is a research associate with the CSIS Americas Program.
Commentary is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).
© 2024 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. All rights reserved.
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2024.02.17 20:44 FunnyWay4369 Why are we born only to die?

These are the questions we have been trying to answer ever since we as a species first evolved the ability to ask such questions.
Let us first briefly consider our ability to voice those questions and how is it we can formulate any questions at all. There has been some discussion recently on how we in essence 'hallucinate' our reality. While this is true to a large degree, it would be more accurate to say that we 'read' our reality. We process the stimulus we receive from external world and then transform it into language through the neural dynamics found in our cortical thalamic complex.
As we develop and mature our cortical/thalamic complex gradually creates a VR type experience for our consciousness, so gradually we no longer see what arrives at our eyes but rather is what is constructed from the direct sensory experience in the occipital lobe of the cortex - our visual center. By the time we are adults our awareness can no longer directly perceive the external world. It can only see and hear the reprocessed reality as it is reconstructed from direct sensory stimulus, in our cortex. As adults we never see the outside world. We don't see the mountain. We only see the image of a mountain created in our visual cortex. Only when we encounter something that cannot be fit into any existing linguistic category do we see it before filtering and reconstruction within cortical visual centers.
We linguistically interpret and assign meaning to raw stimulus within our cortex which determines our subsequent response and behaviors. Under normal conditions if what we are experiencing cannot be translated into our existing vocabulary then we cannot act coherently and we will either freeze up or become completely uninhibited and out of control. The parsing of external reality into language is a reflex and it is normally beyond our ability to perceive this neurological process as it is occurring.
The answers to the nature of life, why we are born and die and how we can ask such things all lead to the same place and if one question is answered then all of them will be. Therefore I will begin with the nature of life itself. I will use one of the tools that western science adopted early in its history and that is dissection. Lets first dissect life and look at it in the detail that has been revealed throughout the hundreds of years we have been using this tool.
The first medical dissections were performed at the University of Salerno in about the 12 century. Now all these years later we have dissected much and we now have little pieces of everything lying around everywhere. Now we are dissecting some very large things and some very small things. Dissection reveals information contained or hidden beneath the perceptual paywall of physical boundaries like the biological membrane of the cell, or an organ like our skin or the boundaries of the earths gravity. What we see in the modern world is the result of centuries of dissection and reassembly.
Now after all the thousands of years of humans history there is one item that has been produced more times than any other single thing made by humans and their ancestors...transistors. Most people have no idea what this item is or how it works yet humans have made more of it than anything else by orders of magnitude. These things also require more electrical energy than anything else ever mass produced by humans to perform their function as intended. This is a result of a history of dissection and reassembly without any underlying worldview or morality to guide the technological exploitation of the discoveries uncovered through the process of dissection and analysis.
Now at the pinnacle of our evolution we have completely remade ourselves and the world and the results appear to be anything but enlightening and emancipating. We have server farms that are using the energy of a small city and space tourism is well on its way. Unfortunately during our history of dissection we have ignored certain things discovered that do not support the underlying ideology motivating our technological innovations. The problem hasn't been in the scientific process but in what aspects of what we have discovered that have been followed up and not relegated to the the dark shelves of history and ignored. Our cultures idea of progress and evolution as a driving force of nature may be entirely misplaced and as 'superstitious' as any of the other antiquated views our culture has abandoned and transcended along the way.
The long delay in accepting the evidence of developmental neuronal death has been regarded as an historical enigma. Here is how the puzzle may now be solved.
Nineteenth-century biologists saw that development has an overriding telos, a direction and a gradual approach to completion of the embryo, and also saw a terminal regression and final dissolution of the adult; but a fallacy arose when the progression and regression, which coexist from early development, were separated in their minds.
Development was conceived in terms of progressive construction, of an epigenetic program—from simple to more complex. For every event in development they attempted to find prior conditions such that, given them, nothing else could happen.
The connections and interdependencies of events assure that the outcome is always the same. Such deterministic theories of development made it difficult to conceive of demolition of structures as part of normal development, and it was inconceivable that construction and destruction can occur simultaneously. It became necessary to regard regressive developmental processes as entirely purposeful and determined. For example, elimination of organs that play a role during development but are not required in the adult or regression of vestigial structures such as the tail in humans were viewed as part of the ontogenetic recapitulation of phylogeny. Regression in those cases is determined and is merely one of several fates: cellular determination may be either progressive or regressive.
The idea of progress in all spheres, perhaps most of all in the evolution and development of the vertebrate nervous system, has appealed to many thinkers since the 18th century. Such ideas change more slowly than the means of scientific production; thus new facts are made to serve old ideas. That is why the history of ideas, even if it does not exactly repeat itself, does such a good job of imitation.
In the realm of ideas held by neuroscientists, the idea of progressive construction, of hierarchically ordered programs of development, has always been dominant over the idea of a plenitude of possibilities, from which orderly structure develops from disorderly initial conditions by a process of selective attrition.
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY Fourth Edition Edited by MAHENDRA S. RAO MD and MARCUS JACOBSON (Page 396).
How revolutionary could be the idea that there is a plenitude of possibilities, from which orderly structure develops from disorderly initial conditions by a process of selective attrition. The universe is not learning, experimenting, progressing, evolving and neither are we. The universe is already full of a 'plentitude of possibilities' and it already is what it is and is already all it will ever be... as are we. Whatever it is we think we are observing it is not progress or evolution in any sense of the word but is rather the processes of 'selective attrition'. The universe is something else much more and we are a part of it and need to look no further than within our selves since we are also part of that 'fabric' of the universe. Humans are not standing atop the pyramid of life but we are only one of many different morphological manifestations of the natural processes of 'selective attrition' which find us only different and in no way better than the other morphological and metabolic forms and components of the earths biosystem and its holobionts.
Recognizing the “holobiont”—the multicellular eukaryote plus its colonies of persistent symbionts—as a critically important unit of anatomy, development, physiology, immunology, and evolution opens up new investigative avenues and conceptually challenges the ways in which the biological subdisciplines have heretofore characterized living entities. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/668166
The processes of attrition affects 2 vectors in the realization of a particular existence from a plentitude of possibilities. In order for life and consciousness to exist in the earths biosystem 2 vectors must work together to maintain a fragile stasis between reoccurring periods of geological instability. These vectors influence morphology and metabolism. Morphology is influenced and regulated by viruses and that still ill defined aspect of our biological reality they represent. Multicellular metabolism is regulated and influenced by chromosomal and nucleic genetics. When the environment changes then the viral component of the tree of life induces morphological changes in the life forms currently inhabiting the biosphere. Within the nucleus of the cell the genetic code is changed now producing biological forms that after development have the metabolism to exist in the new environment. Life consciousness has within it already all the plentitude of possibilities needed to exist in many different potential worlds and it doesn't need to evolve as it is already capable of arising in almost any conditions. Look at the many amazing ways that nature is already incorporating plastics into its ecology.
Unfortunately for us, our ill fated venture into space has triggered processes of attrition between these 2 vectors that are now adapting the morphology and metabolism of the earths biome in response to the time many of its lifeforms have already spent living in a gravity free environment. The different forms of life we have have brought too and from a gravity free environment are also changing. Switching from a model based on evolution and progress to one based on a preexisting plenitude of possibilities may affect the statistical significance of our predictive models. If we are not progressing and evolving towards something then what exactly is it we are doing with all our technologies but creating the conditions for our own morphological extinction?
The human species is an embodiment of the force of attrition in nature. As a species we have introduced a plentitude of possibilities into the biosphere by reshaping ourselves and our environment through our behaviors and in doing so we have fulfilled our biological function. The model is no longer based on the idea of progress so our behavior as a species need no longer be seen as progressive but as simply transformative. The organisms with the largest genomes are creatures like amoebas and lungfish which could be considered as very important gatekeepers and librarians of the biological information accumulated from eons of harvesting 'information' from an ever changing plentitude of biological possibilities. This information is stored within many levels of biosystem and are all connected by the viral ocean in which the overall biosystem is immersed.
https://www.science.org/content/article/meet-obscure-microbe-influences-climate-ocean-ecosystems-and-perhaps-even-evolution
It is creatures like these along with long living organisms like trees and fungi that are at the heart of the biosystem while the human species seems doomed to be little more than a brief biological storm arising and passing away in but a few minutes of geological time. We are no longer talking about a universe born from simplicity and its slow progression towards consciousness of which we are the ultimate manifestation.
Consciousness is the fundamental universal force that gives rise to the biological reality we inhabit. Most everything around us has consciousness and it flows through the underlying fabric of our existence via 'fields' generated by metabolic life, much like how electricity moves along a wire...flowing via the field surrounding the wire and not really within the wire itself. It is what is perceiving the perceptual experience created within the cartesian theatre of our human mind. It is the cortical thalamic complex that creates the unique type of perceptual experience that humans have. There is nothing unique about human consciousness only our perceptual experience. The human experience does not represent any type of progression or evolution of consciousness along an evolutionary timeline.
The only thing modern humans bring to the table is their own unique type of perceptual experience which is initiating behaviors that results in biological information that will find its way throughout the biome and will be stored for eons to come and long after we as a species are gone. The introduction of plastics into the ecology represents a new type of information that the natural biological world is already starting to use in many creative and unexpected ways.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/17/world/plastic-pollution-ocean-ecosystems-intl-climate/index.html
https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/03/27/1070341/microplastics-messing-with-microbiomes-of-seabirds/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2818-3
The study of the basic philosophies or ideologies of scientists is very difficult because they are rarely articulated. They largely consist of silent assumptions that are taken so completely for granted that they are never mentioned. The historian of biology encounters some of his greatest difficulties when trying to ferret out such silent assumptions; and anyone who attempts to question these "eternal truths" encounters formidable resistance.
In biology, for hundreds of years, a belief in the inheritance of acquired characters, a belief in irresistible progress and in a scala naturae, a belief in a fundamental difference between organic beings and the inanimate world, and a belief in an essentialistic structure of the world of phenomena are only a few of the silent assumptions that influenced the progress of science. Basic ideological polarities were involved in all of the great controversies in the history of biology, indicated by such alternatives as quantity vs. quality, reduction vs. emergence, essentialism vs. population thinking, monism vs. dualism, discontinuity vs. continuity, mechanism vs. vitalism, mechanism vs. teleology, statism vs. evolutionism, and others. Lyell's resistance to evolutionism was due not only to his natural theology but also to his essentialism, which simply did not allow for a variation of species "beyond the limits of their type." Coleman (1970) has shown to what large extent Bateson's resistance to the chromosome theory of inheritance was based on ideological reasons.
One can go so far as to claim that the resistance of a scientist to a new theory almost invariably is based on ideological reasons rather than on logical reasons or objections to the evidence on which the theory is based. (Page 835).
https://www.epitropakisg.ggrigorise/Mayr_GrowthOfBiologicalThought.pdf
What do we see when we look at a lion feeding on a fresh kill that is still alive while being eaten? Or a grizzly bear keeping its prey alive for days as it eats it? How about a herd of orca's slowly killing a blue whale? We look away in horror and disgust because we have no idea what it is we are actually observing. Our everyday perceptual experience provides no insight into what is actually happening as this untamed savagery unfolds before us. We have no words for the world as it really is since we very rarely ever perceive it as it really is before being processed and recreated in the cortical thalamic complex. That is what we see and we do not see the outside world as it really is.
A lion consuming a deer is not unlike 2 galaxies colliding. When one animal eats another 2 very large populations of trillions of separate and specialized cellular organisms merge together combining all their biological information as it is being generated in real time. This biological material is processed within the lion and then the viral components and other transgenic organisms move this information between different creatures picking up bits of information and moving it around the biome to be integrated into existing info and/or stored for later retrieval and integration. Very little information is lost when the biosystem is working correctly. When it is not working properly then much information can be permanently lost very quickly. We see this as viruses mutate as they pick up new pieces as the processes of recombination unfold. In times of biological instability plagues are common as insects and rodents are very effective means of consuming this biological information before it is lost due to factors such as changing climatic conditions producing famine. The goal is not evolution or progress but the maintenance of a repository of biological information that allows the biosystem to self regulate its morphology and metabolism. If the organisms that act as gatekeepers, storehouses and librarians are lost then the whole biosystem will collapse.
It the the fundamental energy of consciousness as it 'flows' through metabolic life that powers the biosphere. Earths metabolism and morphology may not look like anything resembling how morphology and metabolism may arise elsewhere in the universe. Unusual organic molecules are being found in the atmosphere of Titan. One such molecule has only been previously found in interstellar clouds. As these molecules break down fairly quickly something must be producing or metabolizing them to maintain their presence in atmosphere. Like electromagnetism if consciousness is also a fundamental force then we can expect it to be active in many different environments.
In two separate data sets, the team identified a strange fingerprint as that of cyclopropenylidene. Its presence is surprising – it’s a very reactive molecule, so in a warm(ish) environment like Titan’s atmosphere it should readily break down into other forms. As such, C3H2 has previously only been detected in interstellar dust clouds, where it’s too cold and diffuse for these kinds of chemical reactions to take place.
https://newatlas.com/space/titan-atmosphere-cyclopropenylidene-weird-molecule/
Life and consciousness is what is most unique about out planet so most likely related to...
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200609190725.htm
The nature of consciousness as I am describing it gives rise to one quality that would make space travel somewhat irrelevant. This quality is also behind much of the fuss and importance that humans have made about different types of 'spiritual' experience from their earliest beginnings. Our consciousness is not attached to our own perceptual experience but can move freely between all the perceptual experiences arising anywhere in the universe right now. Every point on the torus is connected to every other point. The perceptual experience of the lion and the deer can be experienced and perceived through the shared dynamics of our own metabolic entanglements as we are all made from the same stuff. It is the 'one topology' suggested to exist in Velinde's and Hooft's model of entropic gravity and the cellular automaton. Morphology is the universal vector for perceptual experience. Metabolism is the universal vector for consciousness.
https://phys.org/news/2021-11-quantum-realm.html - "If a phenomenon produces a large amount of entropy, observing its time-reversal is so improbable as to become essentially impossible. However, when the entropy produced is small enough, there is a non-negligible probability of seeing the time-reversal of a phenomenon occur naturally. Malotki does admit that the English and Hopi systems of tense are different since the English system distinguishes past from non-past, whereas Hopi distinguishes future from non-future https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopi_time_controversy
Biological organisms produce heat/entropy. Think about how significant it is that life can live in external temps well below its own internal heat. Metabolic cellular processes are producing this heat. Biological organisms are not unlike little suns with their ability to produce internal heat. Our bodies are literally made up of trillions of little suns. From metabolism/consciousness arises morphology/perceptual experience. The positive energy generated by the activities of morphological organisms, each with their own spectrum of perceptual experience, counters the negative heat energy of the many metabolic states of consciousness which permeate the universe. When an organism is producing more entropy than the system can absorb that organism is removed or reabsorbed and replaced with one whose metabolism is in balance with rest of biome. When there is too much entropy things like the 'time-reversal of a phenomenon occurring naturally' are no longer available as part of our perceptual experience or vocabulary. Invariably most spiritual practices inadvertently result in the production of less entropy or in the balancing and stabilization of existing entropic forces.
The shamans of old may of been much more in tune with things then we give them credit for. It is a shame that most of their languages and way of life are gone. Like the American Indian I hold the view that the animals and plants around us are our older brothers and sisters and we should learn from them, take our place beside them and not seek to dominate and control but to share the world with them. We have become a species of attrition and seem incapable anymore of transcending our own nature. We cannot help but destroy what we cannot dominate and now we have turned on each other as there is very little left in the natural world for us to conquer. We are no more aware of what we are doing than the couple of meteorites that changed life forever for the dinosaurs. Maybe as Emerson suggested we have learned to ride in a carriage and lost the use of our legs while our giant follows us everywhere.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/technology/a-new-obelisk-lifeform-is-hiding-inside-humans/ar-BB1ik1za?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=14f4c9c4abf4482480a5ec0c3bbbe80d&ei=15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFxomyt4oDA
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2024.01.22 13:38 Chico237 #NIOCORP-China is moving up the rare earth value chain. The West is trying to catch up, EARLY 2024 NIOCORP TRAIL TO FINAL 2024 F.S. & a bit more...

#NIOCORP-China is moving up the rare earth value chain. The West is trying to catch up, EARLY 2024 NIOCORP TRAIL TO FINAL 2024 F.S. & a bit more...

Jan. 21st, 2024, ~China is moving up the rare earth value chain. The West is trying to catch up:

China is moving up the rare earth value chain. The West is trying to catch up (msn.com)
Western nations are developing their own rare earth supply chains to reduce reliance on China. Photo: Reuters© Provided by South China Morning Post
Last month, a Chinese firm acquired the entire stockpile at Canada’s first and only operating rare earth mine. Shenghe Resources also bought a 9.9 per cent stake in Vital Metals, the Australian company that owns the project.
Shenghe has been importing rare earths from American and Australian miners and processing them in China since 2016.
Rare earths are used in clean-energy technologies such as electric vehicles and wind turbines, and China has had a leading position supplying the world with these elements since the 1980s. But it is also well ahead on the technologies used to process rare earths.
Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.
And as Western countries develop their own rare earth supply chains to reduce reliance on China, acquisitions like Shenghe’s show how China is seeking to import upstream products from the West, then export value-added products back to these countries.
So while China used to provide cheap raw materials to Western nations to make high-end products for clean energy, it is now attempting to reverse that production flow in the global value chain.
In the rare earth supply chain, upstream production involves the mining of the elements and the extraction and separation of their oxides. Downstream is mainly the production of permanent magnets, used for electric vehicles.
Rapid exploration and mining of rare earth deposits and a leading position on separation and extraction technologies saw China dominate exports of raw ores and other upstream products.
Prices were extremely low and there were serious environmental concerns, prompting efforts to improve the industry, with exports of raw ores banned in 2009, and controls imposed on domestic rare earth production.
Duan Xiaolin, assistant professor of global studies at Chinese University of Hong Kong in Shenzhen, said China was attempting to make its use of rare earth resources sustainable.
“These efforts include environmental regulations, production control, and industrial restructuring to consolidate rare earth production among state-owned enterprises, which has led to an undersupply of rare earth raw ores within China,” Duan said.
Meanwhile, Western countries led by the United States, Australia, the European Union and Canada have sought to develop a new rare earth supply chain so they are less dependent on China.
That has seen China’s share of total rare earth exports drop from some 90 per cent a decade ago to about 70 per cent in 2022, according to the US Geological Survey.
And with an undersupply at home, China’s rare earth industry has had to rely more on imports of upstream products to process.
Imports have grown significantly – from 14,274 tonnes overall in 2016 to about 10 times that volume in 2022.
The industry imported 2,759 tonnes of rare earth oxides, an upstream product, in 2016 – and 10 times more in the first half of 2023.
It also went from importing just 2 tonnes of raw ores in 2016 to imports of more than 70,000 tonnes annually in the last three years.
“Chinese companies are importing raw materials from abroad and actively seeking to diversify to meet their need for raw materials, with Shenghe Resources being a notable pioneer in this regard,” Duan said.

In recent years, Shenghe has acquired stakes in two Australian companies that own rare earth mines in Greenland and Tanzania, as well as a stake in the owner of the largest such mine in the US. That mine, named Mountain Pass, produces about 15 per cent of the world’s rare earths, according to its website.

These deals have given Shenghe exclusive rights to buy rare earth concentrates produced at the mines.

From 2017 to 2022, the company, which is partially state-owned, has spent about US$248 billion annually on rare earths from foreign mines – far more than its purchases of domestic rare earths.
In the December deal, the Chinese company acquired the Canadian mine’s stockpile and it will also work with Vital Metals to develop another mine in Tanzania.
Shenghe’s recent acquisitions are part of a broader Chinese strategy to move up the rare earth value chain.
As China buys more upstream products from abroad, its exports of rare earth permanent magnets – a high-demand and high-value-added downstream product – have roughly doubled from 2016 to 2023. They are exported to countries including the US, Germany, Italy, Poland and Vietnam.
Kevin Ansdell, a geological sciences professor at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, noted that the West was behind when it came to the refining part of the rare earth supply chain.
“So if you develop a new rare earth mine in Europe, for example, there is a pretty good chance that the ore, processed to a certain degree, would then have to be sent to China for refining to the pure metal,” he said.
According to Antonio Helio Castro Neto, a professor and materials scientist at the National University of Singapore, it will take at least a decade of heavy investment for the US to catch up with China’s rare earth processing technologies.
China is meanwhile seeking to retain its dominance in downstream processing. It banned the export of the technology used to make rare earth permanent magnets in December, adding to a ban on exporting upstream processing technologies in place since 2020.
Cheap labour and low production costs fuelled China’s rapid economic growth in the past four decades, but more recently it has been trying to upgrade manufacturing more broadly to move up the value chain. That process has been accelerated by Western countries moving some supply chains out of China.
The value-added output of China’s manufacturing industry jumped from 16.98 trillion yuan in 2012 to 31.4 trillion yuan a decade later, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
China has already moved up the clean energy supply chain, and not just in rare earths. According to the International Energy Agency, it is also the world’s largest processor of four other renewable energy sources – copper, nickel, cobalt and lithium – with most of their production done outside China.
Wang Guoqing, director of the Lange Steel Information Research Centre in Beijing, said converting raw materials or upstream products into high-value-added ones brought higher profits and more benefit to the country’s economic development.
China now dominates production of electric vehicles, a key application for rare earth materials, accounting for more than half of all new electric car registrations globally in 2022, according to an IEA report.
Wang said many other industries in China were trying to upgrade to more high-value-added activities.
“In the steel industry, for example, China has been encouraging the import of pig iron [the raw material used for steel] and the export of higher-end products,” she said.
Castro Neto from NUS said China had been importing upstream products and exporting downstream ones for a long time.
“For instance, China buys iron and niobium ore from Brazil and resells it as steel with a profit,” he said. “It reinforces the commodity dependence and keeps the money coming.”

Jan, 18th, 2024, IperionX CEO maps out visionary path for 2024 targeting titanium advancements

IperionX Receives US$12.7M U.S. Department of Defense Grant for Domestic Titanium Production - IperionX
\***" In October, IperionX received a Letter of Interest from the U.S. Export-Import Bank for a provisional sum of USD 11.5 million, and in November, the company was awarded a USD 12.7 million grant from the US Department of Defense for domestic titanium production. "****\**
IperionX CEO maps out visionary path for 2024 targeting titanium advancements - Australian Manufacturing
IperionX’s titanium production facility, Virginia. Image credit: IPerionX
..."In October, IperionX received a Letter of Interest from the U.S. Export-Import Bank for a provisional sum of USD 11.5 million, and in November, the company was awarded a USD 12.7 million grant from the US Department of Defense for domestic titanium production.
These funding initiatives, along with a successful additional equity raise, are expected to support the initial Virginia production scale-up.
The upcoming year is poised to be transformative for IperionX, with a focus on realising its “Bessemer Moment.”
The commissioning of a large-scale industrial furnace in Virginia is a crucial step to demonstrate leading technologies at commercial scale, expected in the first half of 2024.
The company also plans to commence production at the newly acquired 1092 Building, showcasing innovative titanium powders in manufacturing various low-cost and high-performance titanium products.
IperionX’s agenda for 2024 includes expanding customer and government partnerships, launching commercial operations, and advancing the Titan Critical Minerals Project.".....

(COULD NIOCORP BE ON A SIMILAR PATH WITH SCANDIUM - ALUMINUM INGOT PRODUCTION?)

*****NioCorp Produces Ingot of Aluminum-Scandium Metal Alloy Using Environmentally Superior Process

NioCorp Produces Ingot of Aluminum-Scandium Metal Alloy Using Environmentally Superior Process NioCorp Developments Ltd.

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (October 18, 2023) – NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:NB) (TSX:NB) and its development partner, Nanoscale Powders LLC (“Nanoscale”), are pleased to announce the successful pilot-scale production of a 1 kilogram ingot of Aluminum-Scandium (“Al-Sc”) alloy at a facility owned and operated by Creative Engineers in New Freedom, Pennsylvania.
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The Al-Sc alloy ingot was produced via a proprietary process developed by Nanoscale that is expected to improve process efficiency, result in higher yields, and reduce environmental impacts over traditional approaches. Nanoscale has already developed similar metallurgical processes that are being applied to the production of rare earth metals of other operators, which behave metallurgically in a fashion similar to scandium.
The alloy ingot will now be tested for chemical composition to determine its precise metallurgical characteristics while Creative Engineers continues to optimize the process so that NioCorp will eventually be able to produce Al-Sc master alloy ingots with various amounts of contained scandium.
Al-Sc master alloy, which generally contains 2% by weight scandium, is used to introduce scandium into aluminum for the purpose of producing various Al-Sc alloys, which generally contain a fraction of a percent scandium by weight. These alloys help to reduce weight, increase strength and corrosion resistance, and make the material weldable in automotive and mass transit, aerospace, defense, space, and other systems. NioCorp’s goal is to demonstrate the ability to make Al-Sc master alloy containing from 2% by weight scandium to as much as 10% by weight scandium.
“I am very pleased and proud to announce this first initial pour of aluminum-scandium alloy as part of our Al-Sc master alloy development program,” said Mark A. Smith, CEO and Executive Chairman of NioCorp. “The process we are employing in our pilot-scale testing is a significant advance over what has traditionally been used to produce this master alloy. Not only do we expect it to be more efficient, but it also will help us avoid the powerful greenhouse gas emissions that are typically generated using the standard calciothermic reduction of fluoride approach.”
Article continues...

ON AUGUST 9th, 2023,~ Nebraska’s U.S. Senator Deb Fischer and Congressman Don Bacon Secure $10 Million in Federal Funding for U.S. Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloy Production:

Nebraska’s U.S. Senator Deb Fischer and Congressman Don Bacon Secure $10 Million in Federal Funding for U.S. Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloy Production NioCorp Developments Ltd.
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CENTENNIAL, Colo. (August 9, 2023) – NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:NB) (TSX:NB) is praising U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) for securing legislation in both the House and Senate versions of the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act regarding the strategic importance of scandium, as well as securing $10 million in federal funding to support commercial production of aluminum-scandium (“AlSc”) master alloy production in the U.S.
��**“Through their positions in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, Senator Fischer and Congressman Bacon are recognized as national leaders in U.S. defense policy in the Congress,” said Mark A. Smith, CEO and Executive Chairman of NioCorp. “They understand the strategic importance of establishing a domestic supply chain for scandium and aluminum-scandium alloys and their prospective importance to defense and essential civilian technologies.”**
“On behalf of the many thousands of Nebraskans who are stakeholders and supporters of the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in southeast Nebraska, I want to thank Senator Fischer and Congressman Bacon for championing the scandium and aluminum-scandium master alloy that we intend to produce in Nebraska,” he added. “Through the Elk Creek Project, once sufficient project funding is obtained, Nebraska may very well become a leading scandium producer and could be in a position to help the U.S. Armed Forces take full advantage of the revolutionary performance benefits that scandium can deliver to air-, land-, and sea-based systems.”
In addition to pursuing construction and eventual commercial operations of the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the “Elk Creek Project”) once sufficient project funding is obtained, NioCorp is also currently engaged in a phased commercialization effort to establish production of AlSc master alloy in the U.S.

****NIOCORP REPSONDS TO RELEVANT QUESTIONS ABOVE:

ON AUGUST 14, 2023 ~Good morning - Jim!

The announcement for Scandium Alloy Production & Scandium alloy funding are most welcome! Leading me to add to my line of questions regarding Scandium & (Niocorp).
A) Would Niocorp qualify for a portion of this recent funding once approved by Congress? Moving forward.
RESPONSE:

***"This funding was placed in the FY24 DoD Appropriations bill at the request of Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, for the purpose of helping to fund NioCorp's effort to establish domestic commercial production of AlSc master alloy. There is always a process within the DoD to select appropriate projects with funding provided to it by Congress. In this case, however, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees provided additional guidance to DoD on this topic in their respective National Defense Authorization bills, including prioritizing domestic production of such materials.

"Next Question ~ For context:
(Imperial mining, CleanTech, & Scandium International all have patents on Scandium & Sc aluminum alloy products. Rio Tinto has established a North American domestic supply(@15 tons/year with expansion capabilities) & has established a working relationship with Boeing.
Niocorp has produced Scandium aluminum with both IBC (under Chris Huskamp now with Jabil) & with Ames Lab, but has yet to patent any process or materials.
Niocorp has established a working relationship with Nanoscale to produce patentable Scandium Aluminum products in the years ahead…)
Jim-
B) How Does/will Niocorp’s expected Scandium production & future patentable Scandium materials be utilized by management moving forward? Once realized…. ; and How do/would they compare to those materials & alloys already developed or patented?
RESPONSE:

***"Latent markets for scandium oxide and aluminum-scandium master alloy – both commercial and military -- are quite large, and we are working with a number of potential scandium consumers and related technology companies interested in scandium. We will make announcements in this area as developments require. In general, we don’t comment on detailed commercial business strategies except in the course of necessary announcements and/or public filings. "

C) In addition to Niocorp’s collaboration with NanoScale. Is Niocorp currently working/engaged with other entities such as (Ames Lab, DoD, DoE, Chris Huskamp/Jabil & others) on Scandium Materials/patents?
Or on Niobium, Titanium, or Rare Earth future products (Oxides, Magnets…)
Please comment where possible.
RESPONSE:

***"There are multiple such engagements ongoing now for each product in our planned product offering. In general, we don’t comment on commercial business strategies except in the course of necessary announcements and/or public filings. "

D) Are other Entities besides EXIM Bank and Stellantis still interested as possible Debt/Equity finance or Anchor Investos partners moving foward?
Leading to a Final Elk Creek Finance package?
RESPONSE:

****"YES"

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**NOTE: ~THE 2023 & 2024 National Defense Acts Call out NIOBIUM & TITANIUM & SCANDIUM & the need to establish a U.S. Industrial Base for the Supply & Processing of ALL! (2023 N.D.A. See pages #246 -#256) https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20220711/CRPT-117hrpt397.pdf H.R. 2670—NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20220711/CRPT-117hrpt397.pdf
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****ON DEC. 4th, 2023, ~ Encouraged & happy to see forward progress on (TiCl4 /REE's) & the F.S. (early 2024 now) I asked Niocorp management to respond to the following Questions:

PLEASE SEE RESPONSES TO RELEVANT QUESTIONS SHARED BELOW:
JIM: Circling back - can you offer comment on the following: Back in June 2023
NioCorp Completes Geotechnical Drilling Campaign at the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Mine Site NioCorp Developments Ltd.
A) Have those results been compiled & completed to date?
***RESPONSE

****"YES"

B) Does/Will Niocorp utilize the results the Geotechnical results & incorporate them into the new early 2024 F.S.? (Alongside recent announced Met/Program results being completed...)
***RESPONSE

******"YES"

GIVEN: NioCorp Completes Metallurgical Test Program and Begins Making Titanium Samples for Prospective Customers (mailchi.mp)
"The Company has shifted operations at its demonstration plant to produce sufficient quantities of TiCl4 for quality and purity testing by multiple prospective customers who have requested samples."
C) Are both Government & Private entities interested in (TiCl4 ~REE's production from the Elk Creek Resource?) Comment if possible....
***RESPONSE

********"There are multiple interested parties, but I cannot comment on who is interested in what."

D) I know .... you know what the last question might be LOL!😉.... "Are (SEVERAL Govt. & Private ENTITIES) ALL still interested????" Comment if possible....
***RESPONSE

*******"YES"

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Congress passes $886 billion defense policy bill, Biden to sign into law:

Congress passes $886 billion defense policy bill, Biden to sign into law Reuters
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December 21, 2023 ~Proposed regulations on advanced manufacturing credits clarify IRC Section 45X provisions ~

Proposed regulations on advanced manufacturing credits clarify IRC Section 45X provisions (ey.com)
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SEE NIOCORP/JIM SIM'S Responses given on Jan. 3rd, 2024 - to relevant questions asked Dec. 18th, 2023

1) Could NioCorp benefit from a possible DoD partial 2024 Feasibility Study funding option for critical minerals production once the 2024 NDAA is signed? RESPONSE:

"It would take too long to wait for government funding from this new initiative specific to the costs of updating our Feasibility Study. We are working on raising funds to complete that work now."

2) Could you offer comment on the new IRS tax credits for critical minerals covered under section 45x. A) How would-could they benefit Niocorp’s crucial minerals moving forward? RESPONSE:

"Fortunately, all of our proposed products are listed as eligible for the 10% production tax credit established in Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit. The IRS is now looking to promulgate specific regulations on what can be included in the definition of production costs and on other issues, and we expect to submit comments to the IRS on some of these issues, either directly or in conjunction with comments that the National Mining Association (of which we are a member) will submit. As to quantifying the benefits of this federal tax credit, that will depend upon how the IRS chooses to implement the governing regulations, including what is allowed to be included in the scope of production costs. But, suffice to say, a 10% production tax credit for a project such as ours that has multiple critical minerals eligible for the credit could deliver very valuable and important economic benefits to the Project. "

B) How would-could these tax credits benefit future end users of Niocorp’s critical minerals utilized in the production & manufacturing of products moving forward. RESPONSE:

"The 45X production tax credit is currently limited to those companies that produce the critical minerals identified as eligible for the tax credit(s). The IRS has proposed to disallow use of the credit by companies that take those critical minerals and convert them into other products. But, again, as with all federal tax law changes, one must wait for the final word on the implementing regulations to judge the value of these changes in the law. "

3) Do you foresee Niocorp possibly benefiting from other sections/amendments to the 2024 NDAA once signed into law once the project is financed. -T.B.D. A) Such as the need to secure U.S. domestic supplies of Niobium , Scandium, Titanium & Rare Earth processing… ? RESPONSE:

"Yes, as we were active in helping to shape the FY24 NDAA. "

B) The possibility of Niocorp becoming a DoD “Stockpile” supplier of domestically sourced critical minerals? RESPONSE:

"Yes, quite possibly. It depends upon product availability, pricing, and other factors at the time. "

C) Please comment if other possible/potential benefits exist. (If/ where you can..😜)

"NO COMMENT!😜"

4) Will an Investor Presentation with Q/A be forthcoming once Niocorp achieves certain milestones in early 2024? RESPONSE:

"YES"

"We periodically update our Investor Presentation when material developments or other news items make that appropriate."

Jan. 12th, 2024~ DOD Releases First Defense Industrial Strategy

DOD Releases First Defense Industrial Strategy > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

The Defense Department today released its first strategy for ensuring that the U.S. defense industrial base meets the demands of a challenging national security landscape well into the future.
The 59-page National Defense Industrial Strategy lays out long-term priorities that will guide DOD actions and resource prioritization with the aim of creating a modern, resilient defense industrial ecosystem designed to deter U.S. adversaries and meet the production demands posed by evolving threats.

SEE RELEASED REPORT BELOW:

2023-NDIS.pdf (businessdefense.gov

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FY2024 NDAA: Defense Industrial Base Policy (congress.gov)
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NIOCORP~ Attending the Mine-to-Magnet Workshop sponsored by Lockheed Martin on January 16-17, 2024: (& Niocorp Presenting on Wed. the 17th)

Mine-to-Magnet Workshop (ndia.org)

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NIOCORP WEBCAST PRESENTATION JAN. 19th 2024

NioCorp Management Update Webcast Replay: Jan. 19, 2024 - YouTube

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Scott Honan- TALKING TO MULTIPLE END USERS WANTING ALL THE NEW GOODIES! ~ LISTEN TO SCOTT HONAN!~

(WORKING ON SELLING ALL THE WASTE MATERIALS (CaCO3, MgCO3 & Fe2O3) TOO!)

1) Mark stated the loan Process was Proceeding well. Niocorp was "Hiring Third Party Due Diligence Experts" engaged in completing the process.

2) STELLANTIS DEAL (Possible Anchor Investor expected compeltion1st Half of 2024 (Although "might/could be longer." )

3) Working with C,D,E, & F...! (Banks, DoE/LPO, DoD... & other entities!, Plus German Loan Guarantee is still in play!

4) a) OTHER OFF-TAKES for REE's , New Niobium & Titanium are in play with multiple customers wanting ALL!!!

b) F.S. 2024 High Priority!

*c) NEW PRODUCTS CaCO3, MgCO3 & IRON OXIDE (WHICH CAN BE USED TO MAKE FERTILIZERS, CEMENT, PAINT, STEEL & more...)

FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS ABOVE:

IT APPEARS TO ME NIOCORP IS CONTINUING TO EXECUTE ON THEIR PLAN INTO 2024!
WAITING FOR THE EARLY 2024 F.S., AN ANCHOR INVESTOR & MAJOR FINANCE WITH POSSIBLE GOVT. & PRIVATE ENTITES!

LET'S GO NIOCORP!!!!

​
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POWER METALLURGY REVIEW (MAGAZINE WITH COFFEE!)

PM Review Winter 2023 (pm-review.com)
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Chico
submitted by Chico237 to NIOCORP_MINE [link] [comments]

2023.12.04 21:22 Guru_millennial Arctic Fox Lithium Corp. (AFX.c) Well Positioned to Benefit from Canadian Government’s Investments into Green Economy

Arctic Fox Lithium Corp. (AFX.c) Well Positioned to Benefit from Canadian Government’s Investments into Green Economy
“Canada has everything it needs to be a global leader in the green economy: access to global markets, a talented workforce, clean energy, world-leading innovation ecosystems and all the critical mineral resources necessary to make EV batteries.” - Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/10/30/news/canadas-investment-powers-ev-battery-production
Specifically, Quebec is working to become a leader in the critical strategic minerals mining sector and a leader in the electric vehicle battery manufacturing sector for the North American automotive industry, thanks in part to support from the federal and provincial governments.
https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/featured-article/canadas-lithium-is-in-quebec/
The support from the federal and provincial governments could benefit lithium explorers like Arctic Fox Lithium Corp. (AFX.c) who are advancing all three of their properties in the James Bay Region of the province.
Arctic Fox is currently planning phase 2 of exploration after completing a fieldwork program at the three properties. During the program they collected over 200 outcrop samples and identified numerous pegmatites hosting muscovite, beryl, tourmaline, and garnets. Additionally, 348 mapping stations were completed to improve the underlying geological map.
The CEO stated in a recent interview that they expect to get assay results back within the next couple weeks. For more on phase 1 exploration recommend checking out the interview linked below.
Full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr0ziOpW9EM
*Posted on behalf of Arctic Fox Lithium Corp.
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submitted by Guru_millennial to SmallCapStocks [link] [comments]

2023.11.27 16:53 Chico237 #NIOCORP~The Fight Over Critical Minerals Has Just Begun, Stellantis Battery Center Begins To Rise, Announces New Actions to Strengthen America’s Supply Chains, TOYOTA'S NEW BATTERY CHARGES IN TEN MINUTES! & a bit more....

#NIOCORP~The Fight Over Critical Minerals Has Just Begun, Stellantis Battery Center Begins To Rise, Announces New Actions to Strengthen America’s Supply Chains, TOYOTA'S NEW BATTERY CHARGES IN TEN MINUTES! & a bit more....

NOV. 27th, 2023, ~ The Fight Over Critical Minerals Has Just Begun:

The Fight Over Critical Minerals Has Just Begun - Centre for International Governance Innovation (cigionline.org)
Competition for the building blocks of our high-tech future is triggering protectionism and conflict.
A stalk of wild grass grows on an old site of a rare earth metals mine on the outskirts of Longnan County, Jiangxi Province, in October 2010. The near-monopoly China has in producing the world’s supply of rare earths has been well-known among industrial users for years. (Jason Lee/REUTERS)
The deepening of the Israel-Hamas war in late October overshadowed profound new findings from the International Energy Agency (IEA). “The transition to clean energy is happening worldwide and it’s unstoppable,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol, as the agency released its latest annual World Energy Outlook report. The report details how the rapid rollout of green technology now under way will transform a major portion of the global energy system by 2030.
Even the most ardent environmentalists until recently might have considered that unrealistic. And yet an accelerated renewable energy transition — an unmistakable good — will produce new political and economic fault lines as demand for critical minerals skyrockets. In a fragmenting world trying to stave off climate catastrophe, the fight over these prized commodities promises to be equal parts necessary and destabilizing.
Manufacturing a single electric car, for example, requires more than 200 kilograms of combined copper, lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, graphite, zinc and rare earth elements, compared to less than 35 kilograms of just copper and manganese for an internal combustion model. The IEA forecasts that meeting the Paris climate agreement’s goal of keeping average global warming well below 2ºC above pre-industrial temperatures will result in a quadrupling of demand for critical minerals by 2040. Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 would mean a sixfold increase.
But while not geologically scarce, these materials are already in short supply. This stems from their versatility as integral components of nearly all modern technologies — not only within clean tech, but also in consumer electronics, communications and medical equipment, advanced weapons systems and the supercomputers needed to develop artificial intelligence (AI). Some large deposits of critical minerals are also hard to access, given their location in increasingly fragile states.
Going forward, corporations’ profit seeking will be buoyed by insatiable market demand — a dynamic interlinked with the growing energy and national security concerns of geopolitical rivals. This constitutes a volatile mix. Safeguards must be created to ensure human rights don’t become collateral damage in the process.

The China Dilemma

Through its role as the world’s factory over the past quarter-century, China has come to dominate critical mineral supply chains. The country is by far the leading primary source or value-added refiner of cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium, neodymium, nickel and more. Likewise for rare earth elements — a group of 17 metallic substances needed in trace amounts for production of numerous dual-use technologies. Such a stranglehold over key inputs for decarbonization, military supremacy and the industries of tomorrow gifts Beijing significant political leverage. China’s unrivalled capacity to mass-manufacture solar panels and lithium-ion batteries will also enrich its coffers as the green transition gains pace.
This has serious foreign policy implications. Given China’s growing diplomatic clout, appeals to dismantle Western hegemony, and expertise at wielding state-owned enterprises to finance and execute infrastructure projects, the green transition could reinforce the country’s status as the preferred development partner in much of the Global South. If so, renewable energy projects will become another tool for Beijing to reshape international systems in favour of authoritarianism. They will also supply a benevolent narrative for the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) propaganda machine to drown out criticism at home and abroad.
Western countries have belatedly grasped how reliant they are on China for critical minerals fundamental to their security and prosperity. In the wake of the pandemic-era supply chain disruptions and energy insecurity sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, critical minerals — especially in processed form — represent another vulnerable chokepoint for liberal democracies.
Despite fevered rhetoric from nationalist hawks, the global economy’s interdependencies preclude a hard decoupling between China and the West. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has called it “virtually impossible.” France’s finance minister has dismissed it as “an illusion.” The vice-president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization, Victor Gao, echoed this sentiment in September in an op-ed for China’s state-owned Global Times, which mostly channels the foreign policy views of the ruling CCP. “Decoupling between China and the US is similar to any attempt to decouple the earth and the moon,” Gao wrote. Trying to disentangle the world’s two largest economies, he cautioned, would invite “disaster both for China and the US, as well as for the rest of the world.”
Still, the theory is that China could throttle Western access to these materials in the event of a spiralling trade war with the United States or military confrontation over Taiwan. For evidence, many observers point to 2010, when China reportedly blocked rare earth exports to Japan for two months after the captain of a Chinese fishing vessel was detained by Japanese officials following an incident at sea.
A new study from the London-based Centre for Economic Policy Research casts doubt on this version of events, calling it “folklore.” Nevertheless, the People’s Daily — a CCP mouthpiece — warned in 2019 that China could sever rare earth supplies to American companies in response to Chinese telecom giant Huawei being blacklisted by the Trump administration. “Waging a trade war against China, the United States risks losing the supply of materials that are vital to sustaining its technological strength,” an editorial said. The United States imports nearly three-quarters of its rare earth supply from China.
Beijing’s decision to ban foreign direct investment in rare earth mining projects as of January 1, 2022, has injected even more urgency into efforts by the West to diversify critical mineral supply chains. China’s Ministry of Commerce then imposed further restrictions in early August, this time on exports of gallium — of which the country produces 98 percent of the world’s raw supply — and germanium, two metals vital for making computer chips.
Critical minerals are abundant throughout the Western world, particularly in Australia, Canada and the United States. The problem is that mining projects have long lead times and are notoriously difficult to execute because of capital requirements, regulatory burdens, environmental protections and bureaucratic inertia. In Canada, which possesses enormous mineral wealth, the federal government’s new Critical Minerals Strategy admits it can take five to 25 years for a mining project to become operational and generate revenue. Some don’t even materialize after years of effort and investment. Mineral refinement poses a further challenge, given the energy intensity and toxic by-products inherent in the process.
What’s more, mining domestic deposits alone may be insufficient for Western countries to meet their needs. Filling the gap created by a serious pivot away from China will require governments and businesses from the industrialized world to engage their counterparts in emerging markets. And many of these nations are now embracing resource nationalism in an effort to dictate terms of trade to foreign clients.
Earlier this year, the government in Chile, home to the world’s largest reserves of lithium, announced plans to nationalize the industry. In Indonesia — on pace to become the world’s seventh-largest economy by 2030 — the government banned exports of nickel ore in 2020. Two years earlier, Jakarta appropriated gold and copper mines from a leading American metals company. Zimbabwe has prohibited the export of raw lithium since December 2022. The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front hopes that drawing value-added manufacturing projects can jump-start growth in a moribund economy that has cratered under the weight of Western sanctions and chronic hyperinflation.

The European Union, South Korea, the United States and others are already scrambling to sign infrastructure and mining agreements across Africa to compete with China’s entrenched presence there. Over the past two decades, China has issued at least $170 billion in debt across more than 1,200 loans to African governments and their state-owned enterprises. Mining has been the third-most targeted sector, behind transportation and energy. The head of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency told a reporter that six months after the country instituted its ban on unprocessed lithium, his agency had received at least 160 lithium investment applications from investors based in China — in stark contrast to just five from the United States.

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NOV. 27th, 2023, ~ Stellantis Battery Center Begins To Rise:

Stellantis Battery Center Begins To Rise - CleanTechnica

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TIES RIGHT INTO YESTERDAY'S POST!

(10) #NIOCORP~ SCANDIUM TRAIL, AS STELLANTIS Aims For 50% Lighter Battery Packs plus a bit more.... : NIOCORP_MINE (reddit.com)
Construction progress photos are nice. When it comes to EV charging stations, it’s awesome to know how far along they are for future trips. When the company doesn’t let people know what’s going on, it can be a little maddening. Why? Because badly-needed infrastructure is something we all look forward to. As an EV driver, it directly affects what I can do with the EV.
But, there are some other kinds of economic infrastructure we should pay more attention to, because they also directly affect the EV experience, just like a charging station. Automotive factories are important, but they’re just the end of the supply chain. Further up the chain, things like battery production facilities are a big deal. Further up the chain, battery research and development facilities live at the bleeding edge of technologies that we’ll take for granted in the future.

That’s why I thought some construction progress photos from Stellantis were pretty cool. The construction of the Stellantis North America Battery Technology Centre at the Automotive Research and Development Centre (ARDC) in Windsor, Ontario (right across the river from Detroit) is well underway. The facility will rely on 228 steel structural columns to stay upright, and these columns weigh in at over 800 tonnes, and the first ones are starting to spring up! With an impressive area of 100,000 square feet, the facility will house 35 walk-in climatic test chambers for testing up to 63 packs at the same time, along with 11 reach-in test chambers for testing up to 132 cells at a time. The facility will conduct tests within a temperature range of -40 degrees Celsius to +80 degrees Celsius, conditions most EVs will never or rarely see.

“At Stellantis, we recognize the pivotal role that battery technology plays in electrifying the automotive industry. Our forthcoming North America Battery Technology Centre in Windsor will be key to design, test and produce class-leading products that will meet our customers’ needs,” said Ned Curic, Stellantis chief engineering & technology officer. “With multiple walk-in climatic test cells, we will rigorously evaluate batteries for pack testing, environmental durability tests, life cycle tests, and systems validation. This comprehensive testing process ensures our EV batteries are built to withstand the test of time, performing optimally in various conditions and accelerates bringing cutting-edge electric vehicles to our meet the needs of our customers.”
The Battery Technology Centre will serve as the main battery research and development hub for Stellantis North America, focusing on the development and validation of advanced Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) cells, modules, and battery packs. With a storage area capacity of 120 EV Battery Packs, this state-of-the-art facility will also strengthen the ARDC’s existing partnership with the University of Windsor, so the entities can collaborate on various testing projects with ease.
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The Battery Technology Centre is part of a significant overall investment of $3.6 billion CAD ($2.8 billion USD) that was announced by Stellantis in May 2022. This project has received support from all three levels of government in Canada. The construction is expected to be completed by mid-2024, followed by full-scale battery testing operations starting in the first quarter of 2025. This project will host approximately 55 new highly skilled positions, including engineers and technicians.
In September, Stellantis celebrated the grand opening of its Battery Technology Center for Europe in Turin, Italy. This marks a significant milestone in the company’s global battery development and manufacturing network, which the company says will include six gigafactories.
According to the company, these ambitious projects reflect Stellantis’ unwavering commitment to advancing battery technology for the electric vehicles of tomorrow. It is part of the Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan and long-term electrification strategy, which involves a staggering investment of $45 billion CAD ($35 billion USD) through 2025 in electrification and software on a global scale. So, the company is just getting started.
Featured image and plant rendering provided by Stellantis.

NOV. 27th 2023, ~ FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Strengthen America’s Supply Chains, Lower Costs for Families, and Secure Key Sectors:

FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Strengthen America’s Supply Chains, Lower Costs for Families, and Secure Key Sectors The White House


  • Energy and critical mineral supply chain readiness. To more consistently track risk and opportunity across energy supply chains, DOE is developing an assessment tool that accounts for raw materials, manufacturing, workforce, and logistics considerations. Additionally, to help assess the potential for trade disruptions of select critical minerals and materials, the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will map and develop geospatial databases for select global critical product supply chains, with a current focus on semiconductor components; and will seek designation by the Chief Statistician of the United States of a federal statistical unit providing the nation’s official minerals statistics. Additionally, the National Science and Technology Council’s Critical Minerals Subcommittee plans to launch a new criticalminerals.gov website in January 2024 that will highlight cross-governmental supply chain efforts.
  • Defense supply chain mapping and risk management. DOD is increasing supply chain visibility through the creation of a Supply Chain Mapping Tool to analyze supplier data for 110 weapon systems. This capability will be used to develop defense industrial base wargaming scenarios to identify vulnerabilities and develop mitigation strategies.

Engaging public and private stakeholders to expand supply chain risk modeling:

  • Supply Chain Data and Analytics Summit. The Department of Commerce will convene a diverse array of public and private stakeholders at a Supply Chain Data and Analytics Summit in 2024. A key aim of the summit will be to invite expert input into supply chain risk assessment models and tools. The summit will also assess data availability, utility, and limitations and consider actions to improve data flows.
  • AI hackathons to strengthen critical mineral supply chains. USGS, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), building on their 2022 prize challenges announcement, will host a series of hackathons beginning in February 2024 to develop novel artificial intelligence approaches to assess domestic critical mineral resources.
  • Risk mapping for labor rights abuses. The Department of Labor (DOL) updated its Comply Chain guidance for identifying and addressing labor rights violations in global supply chains. In addition, DOL is providing $8 million for two four-year projects to identify supply chain traceability methods and technologies to address child labor or forced labor risks in diverse supply chains, such as the cobalt and cotton sectors. DOL will also undertake new supply chain research on mining and agriculture products across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
In addition to the announcements above, the Administration continues to deepen engagement with allies and partners to strengthen global supply chains, including:
Deepening international early warning systems to detect and respond to supply chain disruptions in critical sectors with allies and partners, including:
  • With the European Union. In May 2023, the United States and the EU established an early warning system for semiconductor supply chain disruptions under the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council.
  • With Japan and the Republic of Korea. In August, the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea committed at Camp David to launch early warning system pilots, starting by identifying priority products and materials such as critical minerals and rechargeable batteries and establishing mechanisms to rapidly share information on disruptions to critical supply chains.
  • With Mexico and Canada. Through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the United States, Canada, and Mexico established a trilateral Sub-Committee on Emergency Response to coordinate North American efforts to maintain regional trade flows during emergency situations.
  • With Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the World Health Organization. The Global Regulatory Working Group on Drug Shortages, currently chaired by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, meets quarterly to discuss product shortages participating jurisdictions are encountering and ways such shortages are being addressed. The group’s exchange of information helped address product shortages experienced by each partner during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent “tripledemic” including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus.
  • With global partners. Through the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), the U.S. government funds activities to improve the weather, water, and climate observing capabilities and data sharing in regions and countries that are needed to produce actionable local, regional, and global climate information and minimize impacts upon infrastructure, water, health, and food security.

Strengthening global supply chains through other innovative multilateral partnerships:

  • Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Supply Chain Agreement. The United States and 13 IPEF partners concluded a first-of-its-kind Supply Chain Agreement that gives partners new tools to build diversified, competitive supply chains for critical sectors, including an IPEF Supply Chain Council to coordinate action. The Department of Commerce is kickstarting this effort through pilot projects to enhance the resilience of key supply chains, including those related to semiconductors, critical minerals, and cold chain services. In addition, the Supply Chains Agreement establishes a Crisis Response Network that will allow IPEF partners to better prepare for and respond to supply chain disruptions through emergency communication channels and joint crisis simulations, as well as a Labor Rights Advisory Board to promote worker rights across supply chains.
  • Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (Americas Partnership). The Americas Partnership is focused on, among other things, strengthening and diversifying supply chains. In its first year of work, the Americas Partnership will focus on the development of regional competitiveness plans in three critical sectors: semiconductors, clean energy, and medical supplies.
  • North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS). Through NALS, the United States, Canada, and Mexico are enhancing the resilience of North America’s supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors, and other essential goods. This trilateral effort includes partnering with regional industry and academia to create quality jobs, promote investment, grow talent, and catalyze innovation.
  • Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI). Through PGI, the United States is mobilizing public and private financing to incentivize investments and develop transformative economic corridors to diversify global supply chains and create new opportunities for American workers and businesses. From the development of the Lobito Corridor, connecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia with global markets through Angola, to the launch of the landmark India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor—through PGI, the United States is creating novel interconnections across regions to facilitate trade and secure clean energy, digital, food security, and other critical supply chains.
  • Global Labor Directive. On November 16, President Biden signed the Presidential Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally. The President directed several departments to address labor rights abuses in global supply chains and identify innovative approaches to promote internationally recognized labor rights throughout the supply chain, including by collaborating with labor organizations, workers, and other labor stakeholders to consider efforts that support worker-led monitoring of labor rights compliance.
  • The Mineral Security Partnership (MSP). The Department of State, along with partners including Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the European Union (represented by the European Commission), established the MSP to accelerate the development of diverse and sustainable critical energy minerals supply chains. The MSP works with host governments and industry to facilitate targeted financial and diplomatic support for strategic projects along the value chain with an emphasis on those projects which adhere to and promote the highest labor, environmental and sustainability standards.
  • International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund. Created by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the ITSI Fund promotes the diversification of the global semiconductor supply chain. State will partner with countries to develop the most attractive economic environments for private investment. With ITSI Fund support, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development has established the Semiconductor Exchange Network allowing policymakers in the semiconductor industry to examine risks and interdependencies on the current state of the semiconductor ecosystem. Additionally, the ITSI Fund is supporting ecosystem reviews in key partner countries that will inform future collaboration on developing this critical sector.

NOV. 26th, 2023, ~ Toyota's 745-Mile Solid-State Battery Breakthrough, Explained:

Toyota's 745-Mile Solid-State Battery Breakthrough, Explained (msn.com)
Toyota's solid-state battery is in the works, and here's why we can't wait for it to be plonked into a production-spec model.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Car and Driver, TopGear, and MotorTrend.

Toyota's Solid-State Batteries Will Get Up To 745 Miles

You'll Be Able To Fast-charge Them In 10 Minutes

(>>>>****WHERE HAVE I HEARD THAT BEFORE??? NIOBIUM.... Hmmmm......")

Toyota claims its solid-state batteries (or SSBs) will allow its EVs to get up to 745 miles per charge. This is a longer range than most ICE vehicles. Perhaps more impressive than the long driving range is the short charging time. Toyota’s solid-state battery can charge in 10 minutes or less. That brings the time required to recharge a car almost down to the level of refilling a gas tank.

The Problem With Fast-Charging

While most batteries can be fast-charged at least a few times, sending in massive surges of energy is very harsh on them. (This is why the “trickle charger” found in so many people’s garages is so maddeningly slow.) If someone routinely fast-charges a battery, its internal structures tend to break down after a disappointingly short while.
This is especially true if one repeatedly lets the battery get completely drained before recharging it. The first sign a battery is reaching the end of its life is when it simply doesn’t hold a charge as well as it used to. If a battery continues to get drained and recharged at the end of its useful life, it can become dangerous.

Toyota's Upcoming Battery Factory In North Carolina

Toyota is planning to have electric or “electrified” versions of every vehicle in its lineup by 2030. It also plans to sell 5.5 million EVs by then. As proof of its EV plans, Toyota is opening a battery factory in Liberty, North Carolina. (The small town of Liberty lies between the larger cities of Raleigh and Greensboro.)
The facility, dubbed the “Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina,” will open in 2025 and have fourteen production lines for producing different types of batteries for Toyota’s hybrid and fully-electric vehicles. The North Carolina factory represents an investment of over 8 billion dollars.

INTERESTING>>>>>>>

ON NOV. 17th, 2023, ~ Tokyo Broadcasting interviewing local residents in the Elk Creek Tavern NEBRASKA~

(10) #NIOCORP~ Tokyo Broadcasting interviewing local residents in the Elk Creek Tavern NEBRASKA~ : NIOCORP_MINE (reddit.com)
(Photos shared courtesy of Mr. N! & Jim Sims!)
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FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS ABOVE:

IMHO- Those are some "INTERESTING DOTS!" & I STILL THINK SEVERAL ENTITIES ARE INTERESTED..." It just might be taking a bit longer...

September 11, 2023, ~ NioCorp CEO Mark Smith To Highlight Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloy Initiative at the 25th Annual H.C. Wainwright Global Investment Conference on September 12, 2023:

NioCorp CEO Mark Smith To Highlight Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloy Initiative at the 25th Annual H.C. Wainwright Global Investment Conference on September 12, 2023 NioCorp Developments Ltd.
NOTES: MARK SMITH - (Should hear (Announce) something about the Stellantis Deal in 45 to 60 Days!!!!!)

*******OCT. 14th,2024,- WHEN I ASKED JIM ABOUT THE MSP & Potential U.S. Govt. assistance. Judge for yourselves...

RESPONSE
"The Mineral Security Partnership is largely designed to encourage critical minerals projects in nations outside of the U.S. This is not an exclusive rule, but it clearly is the US State Department’s intent. These kinds of multilateral international processes tend to move relatively slowly given that several dozen various governmental bureaucracies across all participating nations get involved in these decisions. You can think of these multilateral efforts as operating like the United Nations … nothing really gets decided that quickly, and there will be an enormous amount of government oversight and regulation that will come to any project that secures funding through the Partnership.

**In contrast, we are a much faster track in seeking U.S. government assistance by working directly with the Export-Import Bank and other U.S. federal agencies. Not that anything moves as quickly as we would like when it comes to securing US government assistance for large projects like ours …"

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Chico
submitted by Chico237 to NIOCORP_MINE [link] [comments]

2023.11.15 13:24 Chico237 #NIOCORP~Foreign investment ‘urgent’ for critical minerals, China dominating hi-tech areas, & a bit more... (Quick Post this AM)

#NIOCORP~Foreign investment ‘urgent’ for critical minerals, China dominating hi-tech areas, & a bit more... (Quick Post this AM)

Nov. 15th, 2023,~Foreign investment ‘urgent’ for critical minerals:

Resources Minister Madeleine King says rare earths and critical minerals are of great strategic importance for Australia (afr.com)
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RMIS - Raw Materials Information System (europa.eu)
Resources Minister Madeleine King will urge democratic countries to invest more in Australia’s critical minerals and rare earths to strengthen global supply chains and counter China’s dominance over elements vital to the energy transition.
Ms King will tell diplomats from Britain, Japan and Chile in a speech on Wednesday night that critical minerals had become “of vital strategic importance” to Australia and securing supplies of them was increasingly a matter of urgency.
“Australia’s critical minerals are now front and centre of our relationships with our international partners,” Ms King will say, according to excerpts.
“Australia’s resources sector has stepped forward into the heart of our alliance with the United States. And key trading partners in Asia and Europe are moving quickly to prioritise agreements on access to Australian rare earths and critical minerals.”
Addressing the Australian National University’s rare earth conference, she will warn a conflagration of global events over the past two years has sped up international competition to secure supply chains through trusted suppliers.
It was urgent that Australia secure abundant and affordable supplies of rare earths and critical minerals for the transition to net-zero status, and that supply chains could be relied on.
Australia had a competitive edge in geology, mining expertise and government approvals, but must work to maintain competitiveness amid global competition.
China currently dominates the critical minerals processing sector, with about 85 per cent of cobalt and 75 per cent of the world’s lithium processed in China.
“Developing our rare earths and critical minerals industry to its full potential will be impossible without foreign investment,” she will say.
“The government welcomes and encourages foreign investment in rare earths and critical minerals from all over the world.
“Foreign investment supports job opportunities for Australians, particularly in regional areas.”
Attending the event will be British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell, the nation’s trade commissioner for the Asia-Pacific, Martin Kent, Japan’s ambassador Kazuhiro Suzuki and Chile’s ambassador Jaime Andrés Chomali Garib.
“By growing our rare earths and critical minerals industries, Australia can diversify global supply chains, increase global supplies and help to reduce competitive tensions.
“The road to net-zero might run through Australia’s resources sector. But Australia’s resources sector also has a crucial role to play in making this world safer and more secure.”
Ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to the White House last month, the government announced plans for taxpayers to back another $2 billion into cheap loans and guarantees for critical minerals miners and processors to bolster the chances of tapping America’s mammoth green energy subsidy scheme known as the Inflation Reduction Act.
Mr Albanese and Ms King held talks with US officials in Washington, and confirmed they would double the amount available under the Critical Minerals Facility to $4 billion, helping projects get off the ground that were struggling to attract bank finance.
Under the facility, companies can apply for loans, financial guarantees or performance and warranty bonds to help establish themselves and develop export markets.
Ms King hosted the first Australia-US critical minerals taskforce meeting alongside US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo during the visit.
The taskforce agreed to immediately begin mapping of Australian and US supply chains to identify gaps and to nurture deeper co-operation between the two countries.

Nov. 15th, 2023,~China dominating hi-tech areas poses significant concentration risk: by Karl Mehta:

China dominating hi-tech areas poses significant concentration risk Karl Mehta - The Week
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San Francisco, Nov 15 (PTI) China currently dominates a number of hi-tech areas in terms of market share which poses a significant concentration risk and the Quad nations must focus on reducing dependency on a particular geography, a well-known Indian American serial entrepreneur and head of recently formed Quad Investment Network has said. The Network, which was formally launched in May, is an independent forum of public, private, and philanthropic stakeholders from the four Quad nations (Australia, India, Japan and the US). It was created to foster cooperation, collaboration, and co-investment into critical technologies and supply chain resilience to develop innovative solutions to the greatest economic and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. “We have a significant concentration risk with the number of areas where China currently dominates clearly in terms of market share anywhere from 70 per cent, 80 per cent to even 100 per cent,” Karl Mehta, chairman of Quad Investment Network told PTI in an interview on Tuesday on the sidelines of the APEC Leadership Summit here. “Take an example of permanent magnets, which is a USD 400 billion market and almost close to 100 per cent of the permanent magnet manufacturing now happens in China because of the rare earth that is required. They control the mining, they obviously control the processing,” he said. The leadership team and advisory board of Quad Investment Network is composed of representatives from across the four Quad nations. “The QUAD Investors focus is not to work against any country but is just to focus on the national interest and the national security of the four Quad nations. So, in areas like this, whether it's permanent magnets, whether it is some critical minerals, whether it is clean energy, whether it's semiconductors where we have 65 per cent concentration risks, we do have to come together as a group. “We are 35 per cent of the global GDP between our four nations. We are the four largest democracies in the Indo-Pacific. So, our job is to ensure that we are resilient, and we do not have major vulnerability or dependency on a particular geography. That’s our focus,” Mehta said. Quad Investors Network on Tuesday announced its collaboration with Epsilon Advanced Materials of India which recently decided to build a USD 650 million battery materials and components plant in North Carolina. The deal represents the first and largest investment ever made by an Indian company into the US electric battery industry and is expected to create 500 jobs in North Carolina. “This investment promotes cooperation among Quad countries in securing the global supply chain for critical minerals. We are excited to have collaborated with them in this significant achievement, and look forward to their success,” said Mehta. “We are very excited about Epsilon, which is an Indian company doing a significant investment in the United States and bringing manufacturing here in the US which is one of the largest FDI in a very important and critical sector, which is graphite, which is the anode of the batteries, Lithium batteries,” he said. According to Mehta, Epsilon is putting up a plant in North Carolina with USD 650 million of investments and it's going to generate 500 plus jobs. “It’s also going to bring a very critical capability back into the US. Because the US has lost in many areas the edge for processing technology,” Mehta said. Mehta said the Quad Investment Network in the past eight months has taken a few key steps. “Number one is to put together a great advisory board from all the core part nations. We also signed up with an operating partner in all three countries… We have identified nine technology areas where we are standing up a centre of excellence (COE) across all the four countries and across our key initiatives in each one of those critical emerging techs,” he said. “The first one we launched is the Quantum Information Sciences, in which we have four task forces within quantum information science, quantum computing, quantum communications, quantum sensors, and quantum ecosystem. “We are standing up a very similar COE now for semiconductors for clean energy and critical minerals. We have identified key private sector players in each one of the sectors as well,” he said. “Over the next three months, the focus is to get as many of the key private sector players, the research labs from the four countries, some of the key think tanks, and government players to come together and the academia is a part of the research labs and build a consensus around what are the key supply chain risks as well as vulnerabilities in each one of these technology areas,” Mehta said. “And where are the funding gaps in terms of an idea or the science in the lab to turning that into a prototype and turning a prototype into a product and taking a product into a large-scale deployment where the Quad as a four-country grouping can maintain its leadership in each one of these nine technology areas as well as systematically solve any supply chain issues,”

POLITICSBiden to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping Nov. 15 in San Francisco Bay areahttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-xi-meeting-san-francisco-international-issues-2023-11-15/

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Nov. 14th, 2023~EU agrees mineral supply targets to cut reliance on China:

EU agrees mineral supply targets to cut reliance on China (msn.com)
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BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Negotiators for EU governments and lawmakers reached a deal on Monday on targets for domestic supply of critical minerals such as lithium and nickel to reduce its reliance on third countries, principally China.
The European Commission proposed the Critical Raw Materials Act in March, a centrepiece of EU strategy to allow it to compete with the United States and China in making clean tech products.
The proposal said the European Union should extract 10%, recycle 15% and process 40% of its annual needs by 2030 for 16 "strategic raw materials".
The European Parliament and the Council, the grouping of EU governments, needed to agree on a common text. They did this on Monday, parties from both sides said, paving the way for the law to enter force in early 2024.
Negotiators upgraded the recycling target to at least 25%. Parliament negotiators also said the European Commission would pass a related act in 2027 that set a recycling target related to annual waste collected, rather than consumption.
The negotiators also agreed to add aluminium to the list of strategic raw materials as well as synthetic graphite. Natural graphite was already in the list.
The latter inclusion reflects China's plan to tighten export controls for graphite. China refines over 90% of the world's graphite into material that is used in almost all electric vehicle anodes, the negatively charged portion of the battery.
The EU is also heavily reliant on China for rare earths and lithium, other vital materials for its green transition.
The act's aim is that no third country should provide more than 65% of any strategic raw material, which also includes cobalt, copper, magnesium and titanium.
The act sets time limits on granting permits for strategic mining, recycling and processing projects, and requires large companies needing strategic materials in key technologies to do regular risk assessments of their supply chains.
It also has provisions designed to moderate consumption.
EU industry chief Thierry Breton said in a statement that, without action, Europe risked shortages and unwanted dependencies, and that the law would ensure high environmental and social standards.
The bloc will work with EU members to identify strategic projects that will benefit from shorter and more efficient permitting procedures and easier access to finance, he added
​

JUNE 2023 NIOCORP RANKS AMONG TOP 30 REE PROJECTS ~ Global rare earth elements projects:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169136823001439?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=82623db3fdf03bac

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FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS ABOVE:
Maybe Some "Critical Mineral" KARMA for XI? AS THE SECOND LARGEST, "PROVEN" REE RESOURCE IN THE U.S. ,Niocorp has continued to execute on their plan. The Elk Creek Mine has numerous studies posted by the USGS & Private entities (Some very recent 2023). Waiting for several catalysts to conclude i.e. - including the Final F.S. & Finance $$$$.
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Chico
submitted by Chico237 to NIOCORP_MINE [link] [comments]

2023.11.15 10:15 Powerful-Pop-7114 Was Earth Terraformed by Martians?

Was Earth Terraformed by Martians?
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About 2–2.5 billion years ago, life in the Solar system witnessed nearly simultaneously good news and bad news. On the one hand, Mars lost its atmosphere and its surface reservoirs of liquid water, turning into the frozen desert it is today. But just around the same time, cyanobacteria abruptly raised the oxygen level in the atmosphere of Earth. This Great Oxidation Event enabled aerobic metabolism and the complex lifeforms that ultimately led to our existence.
Did this coincidence in timing between the two events occur by chance or was it triggered by cause and effect?
For example, if Mars lost its atmosphere as a result of a giant asteroid impact, the same collision could have transferred numerous Martian rocks with biological organisms or unique chemicals to Earth, tilting the balance in favor of cyanobacteria and triggering a transformation of terrestrial life. The possibility that Mars and Earth share the same biological ancestry will be testable as soon as we identify traces of life from Early Mars. But the ancestry could go deeper and involve intelligence.
In a previous essay, I calculated that if an advanced technological civilization originated on Mars twice as fast as on Earth and then disappeared when Mars lost its habitability, then all technological infrastructure on Mars would have been eroded into dust by now as a result of asteroid impacts. This natural devastation would have been equivalent to dropping several tens of Hiroshima atomic bombs per square kilometer on the Martian surface.
But let’s follow this logical possibility a bit further. If an advanced technological civilization existed on early Mars, surely there would have been a Martian version of Elon Musk who had founded a Martian company, say SpaceY, with the goal of bringing Martians to Earth after expressing a wish to die on Earth. And imagine that this wish was fulfilled 2–2.5 billion years ago, unlike the mirror-image of Musk’s current wish to die on Mars which is yet to be carried out.
In such a case, the revenues and stock value of SpaceY must have skyrocketed 2.5 billion years ago, when it became clear to the Martians that their planet is about to lose its atmosphere and ability to sustain liquid water. Inhabiting Earth became their obvious path to salvation, and terraforming Earth became a major priority in Martian politics.
Was the Great Oxidation Event the result of a Martian project for terraforming Earth? The rise in cyanobacteria activity could have been artificially cultivated by suppressing competing species, by seeding or by enhancing the nutrients that allowed cyanobacteria to thrive. In such a case, was the Great Oxidation Event on Earth followed by a Great Exodus Event on Mars?
Frankly, I do not enjoy science fiction when the storyline violates the laws of physics. But I do love science and this “Terraformed Earth” hypothesis is testable based on the scientific method. One could easily rule it out by studying early life on Earth or Mars and finding that the genetic code of living organisms on the two planets are different. But one could also search for archaeological evidence on Earth, Mars or even the Moon if an earlier civilization landed there.
Salt crater dating using data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter implies that Mars had liquid water about 2–2.5 billion years ago. NASA’s MAVEN Orbiter presented evidence that Mars lost its atmosphere around that time. So far, the Perseverance Rover has not noticed any relics of Martian technology. But it is also possible to follow the latter search on Earth.
What would the archaeological traces of a Martian civilization on Earth look like? As calculated in my previous essay, the technological infrastructure of a civilization that predated us and then perished billions of years ago, would have been removed by meteor impacts and geological activity in the form of volcanoes and plate tectonics. But in places where the devastation was incomplete, we might find unusual relics.
Any such search would constitute a high-risk, high-reward operation. But the level of risk or reward associated with the search is far smaller than that involved in an actual exodus of a technological civilization from a rocky planet to its nearest neighbor. In case Martians arrived here first, Musk’s current ambition to bring humans to Mars resembles a trip plan to a childhood home after the parents passed away.
submitted by Powerful-Pop-7114 to u/Powerful-Pop-7114 [link] [comments]

2023.11.10 14:15 NoLemon5426 Volcano update... one geologist opines that "It's just a matter of days." 🌋

*Update, November 11*
New thread here.
Breaking news
These updates are messy. I apologize. Things are changing very, very fast.
Update, 4:40 local-
"There are still no signs of magma making its way to the surface. It is also not confirmed that an eruption will start, although it seems likely." This is what Benedikt Gunnar Ófeigsson, an expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office in crustal movements, says.
In addition, all emergency responders have been pulled out of the area. This feeling is very unsettling, hoping for the best outcome for everyone impacted directly by this.
🚨 Update, 1:30 local- 🚨
Just to clarify things, "Magma intrusion possibly extending beneath Grindavík" is the headline of the latest update on IMO. Things are quite serious. Do stay out of the area. Magma is on the move, and it is uncertain where it may emerge.
Iceland is now at the "Emergency/Distress phase."
There are more reports of damaged structures.
All flights are expected to go as normal.
Good guy Domino's doin' the Lord's work and feeding people at the mass aid stations.
I see on this thread that the nephew of Mjolnir36 is a first responder and is assisting in Grindavík. His name is Tómas Logi Hallgrímsson and we send him well wishes. Please donate to ICESAR if you can. The team is Þorbjörn.
The evacuation of Grindavík is finished.
🚨 Update, 23:30 local - 🚨
There is now an evacuation order for Grindavík. Please, do not go to Grindavík. The RÚV live feed states police are there while it is being evacuated, and will be posted there to protect the town. So they're just going to be pissed off and make you turn around. Just avoid the area, it is not safe to be there.
VERY IMPORTANT now to keep checking IMO here and Safe Travel.
🚨 Update, 21:00 local - 🚨
There are "very clear signs of magma flowing to the surface."
Aviation color code raised to orange due to intense activity.
The following explanation is given for the orange color: "The volcano is showing increased activity and an increasing probability of an eruption, or, an eruption is in progress, although with little or no ash production."
It is believed that there is a magma tunnel forming around this area.
I just want to point how endearing this is. In addition to the shelters set up for humans leaving Grindavík, an emergency shelter for the cats is being set up.
There is no evacuation, but some residents are choosing to leave Grindavík on their own. There is now an evacuation order for Grindavík. Please, do not go to Grindavík. The RÚV live feed states police are there while it is being evacuated, and will be posted there to protect the town. So they're just going to be pissed off and make you turn around. Just avoid the area, it is not safe to be there.
Previous updates from today below:
Today, Friday 10 November:
A lot is going on. Google Translate is helpful for all articles that are in Icelandic.
"Seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula has moved into the Sundhnúka crater series in the past 24 hours." Quakes are moving east of Svartsengi power station and the Blue Lagoon. Since the series started on October 25th, there have been over 23,000 measured earthquakes. Some information in Icelandic about the Sundhnúka area.
Overnight was relatively quiet compared to the previous night, but since 8:00, activity has picked up.
Ármann Höskuldsson, a respected researcher professor at the University of Iceland School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, believes "The roof is giving in, that's just the way it is. For me, it's only a matter of days before this happens." However, a respected geophysicist, Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson, says people should be cautious with their media statements, as there is still no sign of an imminent eruption.
Do keep in mind that the only place where the official information on what is happening with seismic / volcanic activity is here. At the time of typing this sentence, (13:10 local) there has not been an update on IMO for about 48 hours. Do check this site.
Update today, Friday 10 November:
Intense swarm happening.
Aviation color code raised to orange due to intense activity.
The following explanation is given for the orange color: "The volcano is showing increased activity and an increasing probability of an eruption, or, an eruption is in progress, although with little or no ash production."
VERY IMPORTANT now to keep checking IMO here and Safe Travel.
State of Emergency declared. Do monitor the news links and other sources below this update.
Here, in English. Currently (18:00 local) at the "Alert Phase."
~ 18:30 local:
Civil defense / emergency management still says there is no imminent sign of eruption. I will add [this statement from
Road 43, Grindavíkurvegur, is now closed. A large crack has formed.
Follow news media here at MBL, RÚV, and also Vísir. Google translate is useful for these sites, you will get the gist. RÚV has an English site here but it is not updated as frequently. Edit: Adding direct link to IMO updates in English.
As always, check the weather forecast here, the road conditions here and Safe Travel alerts here. Things can change very quickly. IMO and Safe Travel will always be up to date. If there is any kind of natural disaster emergency, the information will immediately be on those two websites.
FAQ
1. Will there be an eruption? How long will it last?
We don’t know. Currently, the magma is about 5km deep with nowhere to go at the moment. So it’s causing the land to rise a bit and causing earthquakes. It could eventually make its way out, but it isn’t trying… yet. Source. Things can change quickly.
2. Will there be earthquakes, and what do I do if I experience an earthquake?
You may feel quakes related to this event if you are in and around the Reykjanes peninsula, perhaps even a bit further away. What to do during an earthquake. Keep in mind that buildings in Iceland are constructed to withstand quake magnitudes much higher than what’s rumbling through the peninsula. Still, they may feel scary or unsettling.
3. Should I go to the Blue Lagoon?
Currently, is closed until 16 November at 7:00. See previous post for past updates.
We have no information that they have not shared. Do check their website for updates.
4. Is there any way for me as a visitor to help contribute to Iceland’s efforts to manage what is happening?
Certainly. Do consider donating to Landsbjörg. This is Iceland’s highly skilled, intensively trained, entirely volunteer search and rescue organization. They have been diligently assisting people and saving lives for over a century. They raise all of their owns funds to pay for all of their equipment. This time of year I believe they also sell key chains and some other items as well.
Also, before anything else - please be kind & ‘remember the human.’ You might interact with Icelanders who are stressed, exhausted, and quite frankly rattled from a few weeks’ worth of earthquakes and, like… life in general these days. It takes a toll, I am sure. Just something to keep in mind.
5. Will my flight be delayed/canceled/ground due to the eruption that might happen?
It is unlikely that Keflavík airport, which is the international airport, will have any issues if there is an eruption. The spokesperson for Isavia, the company that runs the airport, has stated they have back up power. "Electricity would not be a problem for us." There simply hasn't been a stitch of alarm regarding this, if this does come up it will definitely be discussed in this subreddit.
6. Can I hike to the volcano? Where can I see lava?
There is no eruption right now. As unbelievable as it may seem, at this time there is still no sign of an eruption. There is not an "imminent" eruption. While the land rise and earthquakes could suggest the potential of an eruption, other geological processes will take place first. This has not happened yet. When and if it does, I assure you that this subreddit will have information for you from an official source. Things can change very, very quickly. IMO and Safe Travel will always be up to date when this happens, please take all clickbait article and videos with a grain of salt. Many have been tremendously interesting but also lack important details.
If and when it erupts, lots of detailed information will be released on official hiking trails and safety, if and only if it is deemed safe to do so. Do not go to the area without making sure you're allowed to and also fully prepared.
Webcams
Facing south from Mt. Þorbjörn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sZzBotLUU4
Similar placement, slightly zoomed in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9QEbirKQx4
Facing north: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAQzsB9ev9Q
MBL live stream, also on Mt. Þorbjörn, pointed directly at the Svartsengi power station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1e_MWJ1nQc
Multiview camera here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=804nPrAUAxg
Another new camera, different angle. This is pointed west: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yEIpKay8Hg
Pointed towards Fagradalsfjall Grindavík: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAQzsB9ev9Q
Previous thread here, there is so much information here. For the sake of keeping this more neat to read, I won't copy & paste the entirety of it here so do give a read.
submitted by NoLemon5426 to VisitingIceland [link] [comments]

2023.10.09 23:05 RiverSnorkeler Advice on Borrower's Defense: Transferring from a subpar college

Hi everyone,
This is my first post on this subreddit. I've debated filing a Borrower's Defense application for a few years, but I have never gone though with it. The loans taken out for this school have already been paid (it was from my Freshman year as an undergrad), but I truly feel I was lied to in many ways. And if the loans have already been paid, I'm not even sure there's a case to be made. I know this post is pretty dense, and I am so sorry, but I thought it might be best if I provided as much context as I could.
Without going into all of the drama, I really had to fight just to attend college. Both of my parents are college dropouts (no judgement, I know it's not for everyone), but at the same time, they did not see the value of higher education in general. I wanted to be a biologist since elementary school, and I planned to pursue biology in college. My parents felt I didn't really need college for that, but in the end, they allowed me to attend, as long as I went to their school of choice. They did not put any money aside for a college fund, so loans were our only route.
The mom of one of my high school friends went to Sweet Briar College, and she always painted it as the ideal college. It is a small women's college in VA, the total student body is usually under 1000; the average graduating class was normally under 100, the drop out/transfer rate was extremely high (hindsight is always 20/20). My mom immediately warmed to the idea because naturally, I would do nothing but party and do drugs anywhere else (I had a VERY cloistered upbringing). To be clear: I was a book worm and nerd.
When I went to visit the college in person, I had a meeting with the head of the Biology Dept. I sat in on one of her genetics lectures, and we discussed my options, should I decide to attend. I really apologize if this comes across as vain, but between my HS grades, placing first in the state science fair, making it to the semi-finals of the Biology Olympiad (as a solo participant), and crushing the AP and SATs, she said I would be able to skip intro bio and go straight to genetics. I was thrilled at that prospect, I mean, that's why I took all the AP tests, right?
As I mentioned, with my parents it was either SBC or nothing, so I went. The first week was enough of a red flag. I'm not sure if this is standard across the board for colleges, but if I had to play one more infantile game of "rhyme your name with an adjective and we'll all sing songs about each other" I was gonna puke (I am more of a Tomboy, and an introvert to boot). I finally started ghosting these activities and hit the books. Then SBC had me take a series of entrance exams to gauge what course level we should be in. They already placed me in Sophomore/Junior classes with respect to math and chemistry. I was also debating a double-major with French, so I had to take an entrance exam. We were allotted 3 hrs, I finished it in 25 mins. I tested into advanced french lit, junior level.
When it came to biology, however, the same department head said she felt "it would be too difficult" to start genetics. She wanted me to take Intro to Biology II, but ONLY the lab section. WTF. I am not exaggerating when I say the lab portion was literally a repeat of all the AP bio labs. It was a complete waste of time. They did not even have enough biology profs to advise each student; I was assigned to someone in environmental economics. He did not really provide much advice at al. Going into the second semester, I tried again for genetics, but the department head said no, you need something more introductory, what. the. hell. There was a professor in the bio dept. known for being tough. He taught comparative animal morphology, and I really wanted to take it - I tended to do well with his teaching style anyway. The dept. head said no, but at the time, we had to submit physical sheets to the registrar. I filled out the Dept. Head's course preferences in pencil, then changed them before I submitted it officially. I also took Geology, but I wasn't allowed to take the lab section? Seriously, their class set-up was WEIRD. I never encountered anything like SBC since.
I did well in morphology, and I asked the prof if he would take me on as an advisee (and I wanted to work in his lab asap). The school foolishly only allowed juniors and seniors to work as research assistants, which is a bad model, in my opinion. Every other college I attended encouraged students to get hand's on research experience as soon as possible. He informed me that he was leaving to teach at another college, and more or less suggested I leave, and I did.
Going back to high school for a moment, my parents wanted me to go to SBC, but they allowed me to apply to other schools. Basically, they wanted to see which school offered the best financial package. I was accepted to Gettysburg College, which was one of my top picks, but SBC was cheaper. After the debacle of SBC, I finally convinced my parents to let me transfer to Gettysburg. That was a mistake, and it exposed how watered down the courses were at SBC (with the exception of morphology). First of all, I had asked Gettysburg if my SBC credits would transfer over without issue, they said yes. When I finally arrived with other transfers, we received a spreadsheet informing us that all of our transfer credits were only worth about .75 of a "G-burg credit/class" as they called it. So I was in a worse position that would extend my time in undergrad. I think my first bio class was cell biology. Holy shit, I was not prepared. The prof regularly assigned peer-reviewed articles in addition to our textbook reading (I had never been assigned one before). I was in way over my head - they had not done any of that at SBC. I did not do well. I tried asking for help, but they had a sink or swim approach.
I was still continuing French, which had always been one of my easier classes. I loved it, and it came very naturally to me. In advanced courses, no English is spoken, fine. I had been used to that since my senior year in HS. What I was NOT prepared for was that the advanced grammar (French has like 21 verb tenses) taught at SBC were completely wrong. The lowest score I had ever received on a French assignment was high 80s, and I was looking at 60s and 70s. I met with the professor, and she explained that I had been "taught poorly" in my other college classes. So, not only was I struggling in my primary field, but also in subjects that usually brought joy. I had a mental breakdown and ultimately dropped out; I truly felt like maybe I didn't belong in the sciences at all. That everything up until Gettysburg had been a fluke. I'll never forget going to one of my professors to explain I was struggling, he told me I was a mental case, needed to be medicated, and I was NOT Gettysburg stock. Nice guy.
I lived/worked at home for about a year, and I decided to finish at the University of New England (UNE), which was about 2 hours from home. It did take me a little longer to finish, but I got my groove back and FINALLY felt at home. I was taken on as a research assistant, and even published in a scientific journal. From there, I went on to earn my PhD, and I am currently a postdoc. I now recognize that SBC is a joke of a school. They water down classes and do not provide science students with the materials and experiences needed to thrive in their field. I am still friends with a few of the people I met at SBC, to my knowledge, I am the only one who managed to pursue my terminal degree or even stay in my field.
Here's the bit that makes the situation a little sticky: the professor who taught morphology at SBC, we stayed in touch. He told me one of his former academic colleagues was looking for graduate students. That's basically what got me into my PhD program. He gave so few positive recommendations, that my grad advisor accepted me before we even interviewed formally. Would that completely negate any Borrower's defense argument, if there's one to be made in the first place? I certainly had to take on more debt to finish my undergrad degree due to SBC (and Gettysburg, to an extent), and the education quality was a joke, aside from that Morphology class. The school was actually going to close in 2015 years ago due to dwindling admissions. They unfortunately pulled through because they were able to sell some of the school's art collection to help keep the doors open (from what I remember). Here's a link if anyone is interested: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/03/04/sweet-briar-college-will-shut-down
OH! And one more thing. When I finally made it to UNE, I had to take a few courses that SBC actually decided I was allowed to skip. They put me right into inorganic chem II instead of I, which was odd because I did not even take an AP class for chem, and inorganic was one of my weaknesses. So again, I had to shell out more money due to SBC's negligence.
That is my story. As I mentioned, maybe I don't have a case at all. I will say that I am in a bad position loan wise since I had to extend my time in college by about 2 years, and I graduated right into the 2008 recession. My last year at UNE had to be financed by private loans.....10/10 would not recommend.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. I would just ask that people be constructive and kind. The last time I posted something similar to a separate group, I received a deluge of "you're an idiot" and "your loans, your problem", "why are you complaining", etc.
Also, regarding evidence. I'm afraid I do not have much with respect to emails/correspondence. I can certainly request transcripts to support some of the claims. I have a feeling this may be a lost cause.
Thank you.
submitted by RiverSnorkeler to BorrowerDefense [link] [comments]

2023.10.06 01:41 Affectionate_Fox9101 Why all the fuss over the “world’s biggest lithium resource” in Nevada? with Dr. Tom Benson

​
The following is a podcast from Emily
The Minerals Manhattan Podcast - Why all the fuss over the “world’s biggest lithium resource” in Nevada? with Dr. Tom Benson (google.com)
Below is a descriptive excerpt from her website:
Understanding the conditions that led to the formation of lithium deposits is critically important to:
· Finding new lithium deposits
· Finding the highest grade parts of these discoveries
· Figuring out how to process the lithium out
Dr. Tom Benson is the VP of Global Exploration for Lithium Americas and he is a leader in figuring out lithium geology. He authored a scientific paper on the lithium resources of the McDermitt Caldera. What quickly followed were hundreds of articles celebrating the discovery of world’s largest lithium resource in a US supervolcano in sources that range from
Tom joins Minerals Manhattan Podcast for an in-depth conversation on his paper in Scientific Advances (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adh8183) to explain how all that lithium got there in the first place, why it is so concentrated, and what that means for a world hungry for lithium to power EVs.
He gives us a Reader’s Digest version of what clays are, starting with the two main ways in which clays form – physical detrital weathering vs. neoformation in water – and getting to the key point that the clays in the McDermitt Caldera are neoformed authigenic smectites due to the high magnesium/aluminium ratios, meaning they formed in an alkaline lake environment. These high magnesium smectites have lithium concentrations up to 5000 ppm.
Tom then explains the illitization enrichment process that leads to the highest lithium concentrations of up to 12,000 ppm, and how in the case of the McDermitt Caldera this concentration occurred under high temperature rather than high pressure, which is what allows this deposit to occur so close to the surface. He explains where the lithium occurs inside these clay minerals or between the sheets.
Tom finishes up with an explanation of the split between Lithium Americas and Lithium Argentina, and why he’s lucky to be working with a team who understands the long term value created by fundamental science.
Get more Tom:
https://www.tombenson.rocks/
https://twitter.com/thomasrbenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasrbenson/
Dr. Benson received his Ph.D. in volcanology from Stanford University in 2017 for his research on global lithium resources associated with large magma chambers. His research has gained international acclaim, appearing in peer-reviewed publications such as Science and Nature, and covered in a wide variety of media outlets from The Atlantic to Fox News and NPR. Prior to his current position as Vice President of Global Exploration at Lithium Argentina, Dr. Benson was Vice President of Global Exploration at Lithium Americas, Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University, Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History, Visiting Scholar at Columbia University, Fulbright Scholar in at the Iceland GeoSurvey, Research Associate at MIT, and undergraduate at Harvard U
IRR
(If you like what you read, feel free to:
  1. "Like" this post
  2. Share these posts with others to spread the word,
  3. Join our reddit subgroup for free if you haven't already,
  4. Attend our next Stock Talk on Sunday, January 22nd at 7pm CST (details pinned on our reddit), and/or
  5. Message me directly if you would like to join our Lithium Americas Research Whatsapp chat group)
  6. Feel free to follow us at www.facebook.com/InTheRuffResearch for more stock ideas and research)
​
submitted by Affectionate_Fox9101 to LithiumAmerica [link] [comments]

2023.09.15 20:06 Chico237 #NIOCORP~NIOBIUM SUPERCONTORS, U.S. House debates which minerals should be considered “critical”! & More.....

#NIOCORP~NIOBIUM SUPERCONTORS, U.S. House debates which minerals should be considered “critical”! & More.....

SEPT. 7, 2023~ Niobium's rise: Fueling faster charging, superconductors and quantum dreams:

Next-Gen memory breakthrough: Niobium's role in redefining data storage
Niobium's rise: Fueling faster charging, superconductors and quantum dreams - The Week
https://preview.redd.it/jxuy8zhfagob1.png?width=760&format=png&auto=webp&s=b4270879a8d0c8718bbc45b9ee074a82c5911a85
Niobium, often overshadowed by more well-known elements, is emerging as a silent hero in the world of science and technology. Beyond its conventional uses, niobium is driving innovations across various industries, with a particular spotlight on its role in next-generation memory technology.
As niobium continues to reveal its hidden powers, it is shaping the future of memory technology and influencing numerous other scientific and technological domains. Its remarkable properties make it an unsung hero in a world craving efficient, sustainable, and high-performance solutions. Whether in data storage, medical diagnostics, particle physics, or quantum computing, niobium is proving to be an element of immense potential, poised to transform industries and redefine what's possible in science and technology.
Data Storage
In the realm of data storage, niobium has taken center stage as a key ingredient in next-generation memory technology. Researchers have uncovered its potential in phase change memory (PCM), a non-volatile memory type. In PCM, niobium-based compounds exhibit remarkable characteristics that could redefine the landscape of data storage.
Phase change memory relies on the ability of certain materials, including niobium-based ones, to shift between amorphous and crystalline states. This transformation allows for the reversible alteration of electrical properties, enabling the storage and retrieval of data. Niobium-based materials, such as niobium telluride (NbTe4), have recently shown promise due to their unique properties.
NbTe4, in particular, has garnered attention for its ultra-low melting point and high crystallization temperature. These characteristics translate to reduced energy consumption and improved thermal stability in the amorphous phase—a crucial advantage in phase change memory technology.
By significantly reducing operation energy and boasting an estimated 10-year data retention temperature as high as 135 ºC, NbTe4 is redefining the possibilities of data storage. This advancement could lead to higher-capacity, faster, and more reliable storage solutions, impacting industries ranging from cloud computing to consumer electronics.

Diverse applications:

https://preview.redd.it/8epx7rdlagob1.png?width=760&format=png&auto=webp&s=6a21603a944d9d07690b9db4c0cbb3c8eb685de6
While niobium's role in memory technology is impressive, its contributions extend far beyond data storage. The element's superconducting properties enable its use in MRI machines, improving medical diagnostics. It enhances particle accelerators, driving discoveries in high-energy physics. It even supports the development of quantum computing, promising breakthroughs in cryptography and scientific research.
Niobium's abundance and eco-friendliness position it as a sustainable choice, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. Its role in energy-efficient memory technologies and clean energy applications underscores its importance in a greener future.
Niobium has a wide range of uses across various industries due to its unique properties. Some of the diverse uses of niobium include:
  • Alloys: Niobium is commonly used as an alloying element in steel production. It improves the strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance of the alloy. Niobium-based alloys are used in the construction of pipelines, oil and gas exploration equipment, and automotive components.

Superconductors: Niobium is an important material in the field of superconductivity. It is used in the production of superconducting wires and magnets for applications in medical imaging (MRI), particle accelerators, and energy storage devices.

Nuclear industry: Niobium alloys are used in the nuclear industry due to their high-temperature strength and resistance to corrosion. They are used in reactor components, fuel elements, and cladding materials.

  • Electronics: Niobium compounds, such as niobates, are used in electronic devices. For example, lithium niobate is used in the production of piezoelectric devices, optical modulators, and surface acoustic wave devices.

Aerospace and defense: Niobium alloys are used in the aerospace and defense industries due to their high strength, low density, and resistance to high temperatures. They are used in aircraft engines, rocket nozzles, and other high-performance applications.

  • Medical implants: Niobium is biocompatible and has low toxicity, making it suitable for use in medical implants such as pacemakers, orthopedic implants, and dental implants.
  • Chemical processing: Niobium compounds are used as catalysts in various chemical processes, including petroleum refining, hydrogenation reactions, and oxidation reactions.
  • Jewelry: Niobium's unique properties, such as its hypoallergenic nature and ability to be anodized in various colors, make it a popular material for jewelry, especially for individuals with metal allergies.
These are just a few examples of the diverse uses of niobium. Its combination of strength, corrosion resistance, and other desirable properties make it a valuable material in various industries.
​

GIVEN THE FOLLOWING: Depleted-Uranium-Niobium alloy ingots & the ties to the DoE/DoD- (I wonder If a stable secure U.S. Source of Niobium might be needed????)

As ~Two DoE weapons programs~ slated to begin production after October 2023 are the W80-4 cruise missile warhead for the planned Long Range Standoff Weapon and the W87-1 intercontinental ballistic missile for the planned Ground Based Strategic Deterrent. The agency’s semiautonomous National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) runs the civilian nuclear-weapons portfolio.

CIRCLING BACK TO THIS 2020 ARTICLE: Complicated Restart of Niobium Alloy Production at DoE Could Delay Nuclear Weapons Deliveries, GAO Says

Complicated Restart of Niobium Alloy Production at DoE Could Delay Nuclear Weapons Deliveries, GAO Says - Defense Daily
![img](sbeieplybgob1 " Close up illustration of atomic particle for nuclear energy imagery ")
Future nuclear weapons programs will be delayed if the Department of Energy is not able to produce depleted-uranium-niobium alloy ingots in Oak Ridge, Tenn., in the next three years, according to a report the Government Accountability Office published this week.
“[A]ny delays beyond that will affect the current schedules of these programs,” Congress’ investigative arm wrote in the report.
The two DoE weapons programs slated to begin production after October 2023 are the W80-4 cruise missile warhead for the planned Long Range Standoff Weapon and the W87-1 intercontinental ballistic missile for the planned Ground Based Strategic Deterrent. The agency’s semiautonomous National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) runs the civilian nuclear-weapons portfolio.
The NNSA has not produced depleted-uranium-niobium alloyed parts for nuclear weapons “in over a decade,” and now must restart that “complicated, resource-intensive process” and produce new ingots at the Y-12 Naitonal Security Complex by October 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said.
Congress required the GAO to investigate the NNSA’s plans for producing the depleted-uranium-niobium components, and other depleted-uranium weapons parts, as part of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.
The depleted-uranium-niobium components “‘have some of the highest costs and longest lead times of any components in the nuclear stockpile’” GAO quoted NNSA as saying. Manufacturing such components involves restarting existing furnaces at Y-12, or procuring new ones, among other things.
The GAO said that the NNSA started “taking steps” to procure needed equipment for niobium alloying in June, and that the agency itself has not lost any schedule slack in the program due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, now in its seventh month.
“However, the [niobium] restart also relies on vendors for supplies and some development activities, and the pandemic’s effects on those vendors could delay the restart in the coming months,” GAO wrote. “NNSA is in the process of analyzing the potential effects.”
On the other hand, the depleted uranium side of the effort appears to be moving along, GAO reported.
Early this year, the NNSA decided to produce depleted uranium for nuclear weapons programs by adding a fourth process line to a legacy nuclear-weapons cleanup at the Portsmouth Site in Piketon, Ohio: a former gaseous diffusion plant that DoE’s Office of Environmental Management is preparing to tear down.
It will cost the NNSA between roughly $40 million and $50 million to build a depleted uranium conversion line at Portsmouth, and almost another $30 million annually to operate it, according to the GAO’s report. A commercial vendor, to be selected by Y-12 prime contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security, would operate the process line through 2036 or so, the NNSA has said.
NNSA is passing the money to actually build the new line through Environmental Management’s depleted uranium hexafluoride conversion contract with Mid-America Conversion Services: an Atkins-led team that also includes Fluor [FLR] and Westinghouse [WX].
The environmental office is preparing the depleted uranium for disposal as waste, but NNSA wants to take roughly 1,155 depleted uranium hexafluoride cylinders from the Portsmouth Site and the Paducah Site in Kentucky to make depleted uranium tetrafluoride that will eventually become hi-purity depleted uranium metal for weapons.
NNSA’s depleted uranium program is among those pinched badly by Congress’ failure to pass federal spending bills this year. The agency requested more than $130 million for depleted uranium in 2021, but Congress has held federal budgets to 2020 levels for nearly the whole first quarter of the year, leaving the program with the annualized equivalent of around $60 million, GAO said.
The NNSA did not make any lengthy comments about GAO’s report, as the agency sometimes does at the watchdog’s invitation. NNSA’s feedback this time around were limited to technical comments that GAO folded into its report.

Sept. 14, 2023 !U.S. House debates which minerals should be considered “critical”:

U.S. House debates which minerals should be considered “critical” Wyoming Public Media
Mine workers are surrounded by dust as a drill bit chews into the wall of the mine.

News brief:

A recent U.S. House hearing that centered on a relatively unknown segment of federal energy policy quickly evolved into a discussion on how much the government should prioritize mining.
The Committee on Natural Resources focused on the U.S. Geological Survey’s list of critical minerals. The tally list includes several dozen well-known elements like aluminum, platinum and titanium. It also has lesser-known minerals – like lithium, cobalt and neodymium – that are used in modern technologies such as cell phone batteries and semiconductors,
Roderick Eggert, a professor at the Colorado School of Mines, testified that the list helps guide public policy surrounding energy development and scientific research.
“Why have a list? The simple answer – perhaps a statement of the obvious – is to inform public policy to prioritize things like research and development activities, geologic mapping, market analysis [and] aspects of commercial policy, such as tax credits,” he said.
Several representatives and witnesses criticized the list, particularly because it no longer has uranium, helium and some other elements on it. Utah Mining Association President Brian Somers said it was evidence that the U.S. is not realizing its full mining potential.
“There are far too many minerals which are unnecessarily unavailable and constrained because we've neglected our nation's vast mineral resources, our highly trained mining workforce and our unrivaled capacity for innovation,” he said.
Meanwhile, others worry that expanding the list – or using it to justify mining faster and in more places – could harm the environment and tribal communities. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., warned against triggering a free for all.
“Mining has repeatedly destroyed public lands and nearby communities,” he said. “With that in mind, we need to think very carefully about how we use the critical minerals list. Some of my colleagues think this list is a free pass to open new mines that rush through or ignore environmental reviews and public input.”
Minerals like uranium will continue to be controversial as the U.S. transitions from traditional fossil fuels and global suppliers like Russia face increased scrutiny.
For its part, the Biden administration is trying to appeal to a range of people focused on mining. It recently proposed reforms that could toughen cleanup requirements on public lands, but has also argued that permitting processes need to speed up.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUNC in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

”WATCH IT HERE:" (Good video to watch if you haven't done so... September 13, 2023 - Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold an oversight hearing today- “Examining the Methodology and Structure of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Critical Minerals List.

Examining the Methodology and Structure of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Critical Minerals List Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources House Committee on Natural Resources
https://preview.redd.it/xkvonri4peob1.png?width=1762&format=png&auto=webp&s=d1598e5665a5066cb12ad711f4bcef851774c1c2

DoE/LPO AUGUST 2023 APPLICATION ACTIVITY REPORT

(SHOWS AN INCREASE OF 10 APPLICATIONS & NOTE THE PLAINS SECTION HAS 30 APPLICATIONS IN REVIEW!)
MONTHLY APPLICATION ACTIVITY REPORT Department of Energy
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Each month, the LPO Monthly Application Activity report updates:
  1. The total number of current active applications that have been formally submitted to LPO (167)
  2. The cumulative dollar amount of LPO financing requested in these active applications ($143.9 billion)
  3. The 24-week rolling average of new applications per week as of the close of the previous month (1.8)
  4. Technology sectors represented by applications
  5. Proposed project locations represented by applications
  6. Status of where applications stand in the review process: Of the 167 active applications, approximately 45% of applications are under initial review, approximately 40% are under advanced review, and roughly 15% are in due diligence!
https://preview.redd.it/ldl7qaqdigob1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=fba276e10a3540cc18d2c60b757d770c31f562ba

FOLLOW THE TRAIL!!! & CONTEXT OF THE QUESTIONS ASKED TO NIOCORP MANAGEMENT BELOW: Sharing Jims's responses to " Relevant" questions on 11/15/2022:

1) - Has Niocorp recently applied for a DoE/LPO loan for "debt"..?
RESPONSE:

"We are indeed in discussions with several U.S. federal agencies about potential financial assistance to the Project, but all have very strict rules about disclosure of those discussions and processes. I’m sorry but I cannot say anything more about this at present. "

2) - Could any additional CO2 capture methods still be possible by ex-situ, direct mineralization, or other methods now being undertaken via the New Process?
RESPONSE:

"The reagent recycling tied to the Calcium and Magnesium removal, which we recently announced as part of our demonstration plant operations, is effectively a carbon sink and is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of the eventual operation."

3) - Who owns the patent/rights to this New Process being implemented? Or can it be licensed moving forward?
RESPONSE:

"We hold the rights to any intellectual property developed and related to the Elk Creek process by virtue of our contractual relationships with L3 and other entities involved in the work. While our focus remains on using proven commercial technologies in the public domain, we will act to protect the parts of our process that may be novel. "

Sharing Responses from Jim Sims to three relevant questions on 3/13/2023

\*Jim-**A) Could you offer comment on What Scope 3 emissions mean for the Elk Creek mine moving forward into production & to the end users utilizing the products being processed at the mine? & Would Niocorp's Scope 3 Carbon Emission Reductions qualify foas "Carbon Credits" in the context above? Could/Does Niocorp's "Carbon Friendly GHG/ESG" mining processes & work scope qualify for- INNOVATIVE CLEAN ENERGY LOAN GUARANTEES Department of Energy?*
Response:
"We have made an internal estimate of the benefits of our planned products at a Scope 3 emissions level. However, the definition and applicability of Scope 3 emissions must eventually be determined by government regulators, and the SEC is examining many aspects of this issue now. At present and in general, carbon credits are created by mitigation measures taken at the Scope 1 emissions level, although there are several different approaches being examined across the U.S. As to DOE programs, I am not allowed to comment on that at this time."
B) Is/Could an "ANCHOR" Investos still have interest in the Elk Creek Project? Comment If you can... (A,B,C,D.... as all options are on the table.)
Response:

"Yes. "

C) (Follow up) - Is Niocorp still engaged with "Several Federal Agencies" other than the EXIM Bank as sources for "Debt" or Off-take agreements? Comment if you can...
Response:

"Yes, multiple federal agencies, elected officials in the Congress, and the WH. "

https://www.niocorp.com/

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MARCH 2023~Export-Import Bank of the United States Issues Letter of Interest to NioCorp for Potential Debt Financing of up to $800 Million for NioCorp’s Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project~

Export-Import Bank of the United States Issues Letter of Interest to NioCorp for Potential Debt Financing of up to $800 Million for NioCorp's Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project - NioCorp Developments Ltd.
(THE SAME EXIM BANK THAT WANTS TO SUPPORT U.S. BASED MAGNET & CRITICAL MINERALS MENTIONED ABOVE!)
Presntation notes: Meetings & communications With EXIM are going Well! & ONGOING.....
PRESENTATION NOTES: MARK SMITH - (Should hear (Announce) something about the Stellantis Deal in 45 to 60 Days!!!!!)
PRESENTATION NOTES: TITANIUM \"TICKLE\" MAY BECOME A LARGE SOURCE OF REVENUE GOING FORWARD. TITANIUM OFFTAKE AGREEMENT PER MARK SMITH - \"SOON!!!\"
NOTES ON SCANDIUM: (See the following)
1) OEMS/ENTITIES ARE SEEKING MANY DIFFERENT PARTS TO BE MANUFACTURED FROM SCANDIUM ALUMINUM ALLOY.
2) OEMS WANT SCANDIUM ALUMINUM MASTER ALLOYS!
3) NIOCORP IN COLLABORATION WITH NANOSCALE INTEND TO ANNOUNCE MATERIAL NEWS IN REGARD TO ~SCANDIUM INGOT PRODUCTION!~ SOON!!!!!!
4) SCANDIUM ALUMINUM PARTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE CHEAPER $$$$ TO PRODUCE & MANUFATURE THAN CURRENT ALUMINUM OEM PARTS (per Mark Smith)

5) BATTERRY BOXES MANUFACTURED FROM SCANDIUM ALUMINUM ARE 20% LIGHTER THAN "ALUMINUM" BATTERY BOXES IN PRODUCTION TODAY!!! ~OEMS WANT "LIGHTWEIGHTING MATERIALS!"~ WOW!!!!!!!

6) SCANDIUM ALUMINUM COMPONENTS HAVE TREMENDOUS WELDABILITY! (Friction, Mig, Tig...) ~WELDS WHEN MADE ARE AS STRONG AS THE BASE MATERIAL ITSELF!~
7) NIOCORPS ENTIRE ESTIMATED 100 TONS OF PRODUCTION WILL ONLY PRODUCE APPROXIMATELY ~1 MILLION BATTERY BOXES!~ .......

(Sounds like the market for SCANDIUM is RIPE FOR THE ENTITIES/OEM's THAT WANT TO UTILIZE IT!!!??"

FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS:

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WAITING WITH MANY! For material news
a) Scandium Ingots? =)
b) Titanium OFF-Take Agreements?
c) EXIM, STELLANTIS OR ANY OF THE OTHER FEDERAL OR PRIVATE INTERESTED ENTITES SIGNING A Commitment Letter, Partnership, or DEBT/EQUITY FINANCE?
d) 2023 F.S.
e) FINANCING ACHEIVED to build the project!
Go Team Niocorp!
Chico
submitted by Chico237 to NIOCORP_MINE [link] [comments]

2023.09.08 19:23 Elgin-Franklin What do you think of the potential of natural "gold/white" hydrogen deposits? Could it ever be commercial, or is it just hype?

I've been reading a bit into natural hydrogen (there's not much tbh) over the past couple weeks and I'm curious what the folks here think of it. It's quite clear now that hydrogen is being generated at sufficient quantities for it to reach the surface without being consumed, but the billion dollar question is if there's any reservoirs or sources that can be exploited in commercial quantities.
So far there's only one natural hydrogen well currently in production (Bourakebougo, Mali) at a whopping 5 tons a year. Over 20 wells have been drilled and the full size of the field has been appraised but not much else has been put into developing it beyond local use.
One startup is doing well tests in the US with no news yet while another in Australia claims that their review of archived well reports suggested a few old wells had hit hydrogen. A research project searching for (?coalbed) methane in France found up to 20% H2 in the aquifer and suspects more could be found at depths >3km.
There might be H2 in the wells we're drilling for all we know, but we're not going to see it unless we're specifically equipped for it.
The problem with H2 is that the "system" is still poorly understood. How much and where is it being generated and is it being trapped? The leading hypothesis is that it's generated from serpentinization. It's not known what the source for the Bourakebougo well is, only that it seems to be actively migrating from depth to be trapped underneath igneous sills.
There's also an interesting proposal for "enhanced" hydrogen production by injecting water into the iron rich peridotites to produce H2 as it's being extracted, and also sequester CO2 by peridotite carbonation if the water is CO2 enriched.
If this has potential and not just hype then it's a gamechanger; with the whole issue of low energy efficiencies in blue/green hydrogen production becoming moot. On the other hand these discoveries could just be another Oklo reactor, i.e. sheer geological luck and just one off finds.
Research is still in very early stages and I'm hoping something good comes out of it. Colonel Drake's oil well only produced 20 barrels a day after all.
What do you think?
https://www.science.org/content/article/hidden-hydrogen-earth-may-hold-vast-stores-renewable-carbon-free-fuel
https://www.usgs.gov/news/featured-story/potential-geologic-hydrogen-next-generation-energy
https://theconversation.com/how-we-chanced-upon-what-may-be-the-worlds-largest-white-hydrogen-deposit-212499
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/12/prospectors-hit-the-gas-in-the-hunt-for-white-hydrogen
submitted by Elgin-Franklin to geology [link] [comments]

2023.08.15 13:38 Chico237 #NIOCORP~US Concerned Critical Minerals Remain Over-Concentrated in A Few Hands, TECHMET 200M Finance, IMPERIONX Titanium Mine Receives Permits, USGS-Finalized Critical Materials List to Inform Eligibility for Federal Clean Energy Tax Provisions & more...

#NIOCORP~US Concerned Critical Minerals Remain Over-Concentrated in A Few Hands, TECHMET 200M Finance, IMPERIONX Titanium Mine Receives Permits, USGS-Finalized Critical Materials List to Inform Eligibility for Federal Clean Energy Tax Provisions & more...

AUGUST 15, 2023~ US Concerned Critical Minerals Remain Over-Concentrated in A Few Hands

Yellen: US Concerned Critical Minerals Remain Over-Concentrated in A Few Hands (sputnikglobe.com)
Photo : Igor Huskić, Friščić Research Group, McGill University
WASHINGTON (August) - The US must be alert to the risks of the raw materials for solar panels and other renewable energies being concentrated in just a few countries even as it makes the transition from oil, coal and natural gas, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said.
"As we move away from fossil fuels, we remain concerned about the risks of over-concentration in clean energy supply chains," Yellen said on Monday during a speech in Las Vegas ahead of the anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act. Yellen reminded her audience that while the United States was leading the global agenda on fossil-free energies, the production of key inputs for that change - from batteries to solar panels and other critical minerals - was in the hands of just a few countries.
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Yellen did not name the countries that are rich in critical minerals deposits, although statistics show Russia and China leading in this front - both countries that the United States does not exactly have great relations with.
China, for example, produced more than 98% of the world's gallium, 90% of its magnesium and nearly 85 % of its tungsten in 2022.
Yellen said the United States could start by investing in the production of such critical minerals at home.
"But we must do more," she said, adding that the United States could, help "re-shore" some of those minerals in non-traditional countries to ensure they are readily available when needed.
"Looking beyond our shores, we are also working hard to accelerate the clean energy transition in other countries," Yellen said. "Accelerating these transitions can mean greater demand for US clean energy technologies produced by American workers. It can also bolster global clean energy supply chains."
The US Department of Energy added six elements last month to its expanded list of critical materials defined as indispensable to the clean energy transition with high supply risks. The so-called DoE warned that the list will only grow bigger amid the global race to net-zero emissions and underscored the importance to energy security of establishing reliant and robust critical mineral supply chains.
In that list, nickel, platinum, and silicon carbide join lithium and magnesium as critical in the medium term (2025-2035), while graphite, terbium, and iridium join cobalt, gallium, dysprosium and neodymium as elements considered critical in both the short and medium term (from now until 2035).
The report, citing data from the Paris-based International Energy Agency, said critical mineral demand will have to grow by up to 600% by 2040 if the world is to achieve net-zero by 2050. The demand for critical minerals is being driven by a surge in the adoption of electric vehicles, which the IEA says could account for 60% of all auto sales by 2030.

AUGUST 15, 2023~ TechMet closes $200m equity raise to further develop critical minerals operations~

TechMet closes $200m equity raise to further develop critical minerals operations (investorsobserver.com)
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3fa9e80c-f231-405d-9a43-506dcc431267
TechMet closes $200m equity raise to further develop critical minerals operations
  • TechMet, the global critical minerals investment company backed by the US Development Finance Corporation, closes $200 million fundraising round.
  • Business is set to exceed a billion-dollar valuation in the next few months.
  • Funds will be used to build and expand production, refining and recycling projects which enable the clean energy transition.
  • In the last 12 months, TechMet has invested more than $180 million into critical minerals projects around the world.
WASHINGTON and LONDON and DUBLIN, Ireland, Aug. 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TechMet , the leading global critical minerals investment company, has closed its latest $200 million equity fundraising round.
The successful capital raise puts the company on track to exceed a billion-dollar valuation in the next few months.
The latest $200 million funding is being deployed across TechMet’s existing portfolio of ten assets which are expanding extraction, processing, recycling and manufacturing capacity.
TechMet, founded in 2017, is a permanent capital vehicle focused on building businesses across the critical minerals value chain from mining and processing to recycling and battery component manufacturing. TechMet develops environmentally and socially responsible projects which are essential for the production of clean energy technologies.
The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is a key shareholder in the company, following an initial equity investment in 2020.
Both the US President and Vice President have cited TechMet’s role as a leading critical minerals company in the global effort to combat climate change.
TechMet Founder, Chairman and CEO, Brian Menell , said: “We are grateful that we have such a strong shareholder base, and the US Government’s direct backing, as we deliver on our mission to build environmentally responsible supply chains for the metals needed for the clean energy revolution.”
Alongside Menell and his management team, TechMet’s largest shareholders are the DFC and Swiss-based Mercuria Energy , one of the world’s largest energy and commodity trading groups, both of whom participated in this funding round.
London-based Lansdowne Partners also increased its investment, and was joined by a number of significant new investors including US-based S2G Ventures , the direct investment team of Builders Vision.
Menell added: “Recent US legislation supporting the critical minerals sector, and supply chain investments by major automakers, represent significant steps forward. The EU has also announced its long awaited Critical Raw Materials Act and, like the UK, is seeking to strengthen supply chains.
“However, there is much more work to be done, particularly in the UK and Europe, if we hope to adequately feed the production of batteries, EVs, wind turbines, and other clean energy systems.”
Last week, TechMet, the UK Infrastructure Bank (“UKIB”) and The Energy & Minerals Group (“EMG”) announced a landmark $67 million investment in Cornish Lithium to develop a UK supply of lithium for EV battery production and battery storage solutions.
In the last 12 months, TechMet has invested more than $180 million into critical minerals companies around the world, including Brazilian Nickel , US Vanadium , Rainbow Rare Earths , TechMet-Mercuria , REEtec , Xerion Advanced Battery Corp , Energy Source Minerals , Momentum Technologies , and Trinity Metals .
Admiral Mike Mullen (ret.), Chairman of TechMet’s Advisory Board and former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said: “TechMet’s rapid progress in the face of adverse market conditions, is a testament to the team’s vision and focus. As national security challenges escalate, supply of critical metals is a crucial area of concern. Nations and companies that act quickly and imaginatively to secure adequate supplies will have a great competitive advantage over the next decade.”
TechMet’s current portfolio includes a diverse group of projects across the supply chain for the critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies, including: both hard rock Lithium mining and Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) projects in the US and Europe; Nickel and Cobalt extraction and processing in South America; Rare Earth extraction and processing in Southern Africa and the EU; Tin, Tungsten and Lithium mining in East Africa; next generation cathode manufacturing and Lithium-ion battery recycling technologies in the US; and the largest high purity Vanadium chemical producer in North America.
Headquartered in Dublin, with an office in London, TechMet’s $200 million fundraising round follows a maiden dividend paid to shareholders last year.
Given the extent of investor appetite and the range of compelling opportunities to deploy further capital, TechMet is expecting to launch a further fundraising round in Q4 this year.
About TechMet:
TechMet Limited is a leading technology metals investment company with a portfolio of assets that responsibly produce, process, and recycle the metals that are critical to the global energy transition and the electric vehicle revolution. Current assets in the TechMet portfolio include vanadium processing, hard rock and brine lithium extraction, nickel-cobalt mining, rare earth production and processing, tin and tungsten mining, lithium-ion battery recycling, and cathode manufacturing. TechMet’s major shareholders include the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the global energy and commodity group Mercuria. www.techmet.com
​

AUGUST 15, 2023 ~ IperionX receives key permits for development of titanium & rare earth mineral Titan Project in Tennesse

IperionX receives key permits for development of titanium & rare earth mineral Titan Project in Tennessee - Green Car Congress
IperionX (earlier post) has received key development permits for the Titan Project in Tennessee. The Titan Project is the largest JORC-compliant resource of titanium and rare earth rich mineral sands in the US and represents a cornerstone asset for IperionX’s plans to re-shore a strong and sustainable domestic supply chain for titanium metal.
The major development permits include the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit and Surface Mining Permit, which have now been issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation. Any residual regulatory requirements for the development of the Titan Project are expected to be complete by the end of the year.
The Titan Project has the potential to be a key source of titanium and rare earth minerals, reducing the acute reliance of mineral imports and strengthening the supply chain with low-carbon critical minerals needed by US industry.
According to the 2022 Initial Assessment (Scoping Study), the Titan Project could be the largest US producer of titanium and the rare earth minerals, monazite and xenotime, which includes both light and heavy rare earths. In-situ metal content of titanium and rare earths over the life of the Project represents potential production of ~60,500 Boeing 787s and ~24,000,000 electric vehicles.

The project has the potential to satisfy 100% of the US Department of Defense needs for titanium and the heavy rare earths required for national security.

The Scoping Study highlighted a projected life-of-mine annual EBITDA of ~US$117 million, after-tax NPV8 of US$692 million and an after-tax IRR of 40%. Further, IperionX plans to assess the application of its breakthrough titanium technologies to upgrade ilmenite at the Titan Project to produce higher grade, low carbon, Green Rutile.
IperionX has advanced a number of opportunities for Titan Project funding and sales contracts, and continues to progress a range of US government funding and incentives opportunities that are available to re-shore critical material supply chains—with the US currently sourcing morethan 80% of titanium minerals and almost 100% of its separated rare earth oxides from foreign countries.

These federal funding opportunities and incentives include the Defense Production Act Title III program and a range of Department of Energy programs made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law designed to support environmentally responsible production, reuse, and recycling of critical minerals and materials in the United States.

(Sounds Like ImperionX wants.Needs some DoE/LPO, DOD, & OTHER ENTITIES TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AS WELL.....???)
​

Published AUGUST 10, 2023~ Competitive Redox Chemistries in Vanadium Niobium Oxide for Ultrafast and Durable Lithium Storage~

Competitive Redox Chemistries in Vanadium Niobium Oxide for Ultrafast and Durable Lithium Storage (springer.com)
https://preview.redd.it/3tnke18yc9ib1.png?width=917&format=png&auto=webp&s=1d816d255b159ccce50a9b8d7a809d915bdb491e

https://www.niocorp.com/

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AUGUST 14, 2023 ~Good morning - Jim!

While waiting for Niocorp’s 2023 F.S. Release… The announcement for Scandium Alloy Production & Scandium alloy funding are most welcome!Leading me to add to my line of questions regarding Scandium & (Niocorp).

A) Would Niocorp qualify for a portion of this recent funding once approved by Congress? Moving forward.
RESPONSE:

"This funding was placed in the FY24 DoD Appropriations bill at the request of Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, for the purpose of helping to fund NioCorp's effort to establish domestic commercial production of AlSc master alloy. There is always a process within the DoD to select appropriate projects with funding provided to it by Congress. In this case, however, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees provided additional guidance to DoD on this topic in their respective National Defense Authorization bills, including prioritizing domestic production of such materials. "

Next Question ~ For context:
(Imperial mining, CleanTech, & Scandium International all have patents on Scandium & Sc aluminum alloy products. Rio Tinto has established a North American domestic supply(@15 tons/year with expansion capabilities) & has established a working relationship with Boeing.
Niocorp has produced Scandium aluminum with both IBC (under Chris Huskamp now with Jabil) & with Ames Lab, but has yet to patent any process or materials.
Niocorp has established a working relationship with Nanoscale to produce patentable Scandium Aluminum products in the years ahead…)
Jim-
B) How Does/will Niocorp’s expected Scandium production & future patentable Scandium materials be utilized by management moving forward? Once realized…. ; and How do/would they compare to those materials & alloys already developed or patented?
RESPONSE:

"Latent markets for scandium oxide and aluminum-scandium master alloy – both commercial and military -- are quite large, and we are working with a number of potential scandium consumers and related technology companies interested in scandium. We will make announcements in this area as developments require. In general, we don’t comment on detailed commercial business strategies except in the course of necessary announcements and/or public filings. "

C) In addition to Niocorp’s collaboration with NanoScale. Is Niocorp currently working/engaged with other entities such as (Ames Lab, DoD, DoE, Chris Huskamp/Jabil & others) on Scandium Materials/patents?
Or on Niobium, Titanium, or Rare Earth future products (Oxides, Magnets…)
Please comment where possible.
RESPONSE:

"There are multiple such engagements ongoing now for each product in our planned product offering. In general, we don’t comment on commercial business strategies except in the course of necessary announcements and/or public filings. "

D) Are other Entities besides EXIM Bank and Stellantis still interested as possible Debt/Equity finance or Anchor Investos partners moving foward?
Leading to a Final Elk Creek Finance package?
RESPONSE:

"YES!"

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​

FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS ABOVE:

(\**READING Jim Sim's responses to relevant questions posted on the Niocorp Reddit board & THE FOLLOWING US DoE Assessment. ~*
IT DOES KIND OF "OFFICIALLY" MAKE ALL OF NIOCORPS CRITICAL MINERALS "ELEIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDITS!" ......O.K.'s & Possibly CLEARS THE WAY~ Moving Forward?~
For Possible DEBT/EQUITY Finance Options via EXIM, DoD, DoE/LPO & Other OPTIONS (ANCHOR INVESTOENTITIES) - Now that they have been "Officially recognized for THOSE GOVT. TAX CREDITS!" IMHO.... Waiting with many!)

JULY 31, 2023 ~ U.S. Department of Energy Releases 2023 Critical Materials Assessment to Evaluate Supply Chain Security for Clean Energy Technologies

U.S. Department of Energy Releases 2023 Critical Materials Assessment to Evaluate Supply Chain Security for Clean Energy Technologies Department of Energy

Finalized Critical Materials List to Inform Eligibility for Federal Clean Energy Tax Provisions

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released its 2023 Critical Materials Assessment, which evaluated materials for their criticality to global clean energy technology supply chains. Based on the results of the Assessment, DOE has determined the 2023 DOE Critical Materials List of energy-specific critical and near-critical materials through 2035. In addition to informing crosscutting DOE priorities including the Critical Materials Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercialization Application Program (RDD&CA), the DOE Critical Materials List will inform eligibility for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act 48C.
The Assessment focuses on key materials with high risk of supply disruption that are integral to clean energy technologies. The final list includes aluminum, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, electrical steel (grain-oriented steel, non-grain-oriented steel, and amorphous steel), fluorine, gallium, iridium, lithium, magnesium, natural graphite, neodymium, nickel, platinum, praseodymium, terbium, silicon, and silicon carbide.
“As our nation continues the transition to a clean energy economy, it is our responsibility to anticipate critical material supply chains needed to manufacture our most promising clean energy generation, transmission, storage and end-use technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, power electronics, lighting, and electric vehicles,” said Alejandro Moreno, Acting Assistant Secretary for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). “Ultimately, identifying and mitigating material criticality now will ensure that a clean energy future is possible for decades to come.”
Because material and technology markets are global, this Critical Materials Assessment features a global scope, placing U.S. domestic interests within that context. For each of the critical materials identified in this Assessment, DOE will develop an integrated strategy to address material-specific risks.
The full Assessment can be found here.
https://preview.redd.it/90x365ppd9ib1.png?width=986&format=png&auto=webp&s=91c3365e1395c367b66eb95c06e72742d5363af2
This Assessment is an update of assessments in previous Critical Materials Strategy reports, the first of which was released by DOE in 2010. It serves as a complementary analysis to other criticality assessments conducted by the U.S. government, such as those by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and builds upon DOE’s February 2022 Clean Energy Supply Chain Reports.
This 2023 Critical Materials Assessment was managed and funded EERE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) and was conducted by Argonne National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory, in consultation with members of the DOE Critical Minerals and Materials Science and Energy Technology Team.
https://preview.redd.it/is3gnfvjf9ib1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=1477636ebba7383cfed39d6574bfcf3b69887d23
Chico
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2023.08.14 23:37 Secret-Temperature71 UAP's Visits: Earth Is Unique Because of Moon

UAP'S Visits: Earth Is Unique Because of Moon
Hypothesis is that the Earth/Moon system are very unusual and worthy of interest.
Proto Earth and a smaller planet collided to form out current Earth/Moon system. This system is likely very rare in the universe and may have caused life to evolve in unique ways. Conversely any NHI may have evolved from a very different process and thus be exceedingly different from Earthly biological development.
https://www.space.com/12464-earth-moon-unique-solar-system-universe.html
Interesting things about the Earth/Moon System
  1. Due to the collision the resultant Earth stripped away heavier elements from the impact or. Earth has more iron and Moon is missing some elements. https://news.uchicago.edu/explaineformation-earth-and-moon-explained
  2. The early tidal surges encouraged geologic activity enhancing the atmosphere.
  3. Later when a atmosphere and water appeared water washing over hot rocks every few hours was a good chemistry for the creation of RNA/DNA and could have kick started life. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/moon-life-tides/
  4. Lunar tidal surges continue to pull on the mantel keeping it fluid and a healthy magnetoshpere. Shielding us from solar winds. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160401075118.htm
  5. Moonnstabilizes Earth's spin which helps assure moderate climatic variations which otherwise would make Earth hostile to extended development. Maybe or maybe not, a discussion. https://www.science.org/content/article/who-needs-moon#:~:text=The%20steadily%20orbiting%20moon%27s%20gravitational,Earth%27s%20orbit%20around%20the%20sun.
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2023.08.10 07:39 eyekay49 As a student who passed class 12, I wrote an article about the Education system in India. Please let me know your thoughts!

Earlier this year, I wrote my class 12th board examinations, which marks the end of my school journey. A few days ago, I got admission in a B.Sc. Computer Science course. In the intervening four months, I realised how deeply inadequate the formal education system is. This is my experience as a survivor of this flawed system.

High School

After finishing class 10th, and ideally having passed the board examinations (I was, unfortunately, in the batch whose exams were cancelled due to COVID) the student chooses a stream – what subjects they wish to pursue in the final two years of schooling. However, more often than not what actually happens is that the student’s parents decide which stream the student wishes to pursue, which means most students take science, either the Maths group (to become an engineer) or the Biology group (to become a doctor). If the parent is more liberal, or confident in their child’s ineptitude, they may allow the child to take commerce, often to train the child to continue the family business. A few remaining stragglers take humanities. I, being a computer science nerd, was in the Maths group, so I can only speak about the engineering side of things, though I hear the situation is quite similar in most respects in the medical camp, too.
The first thing a typical science student does after joining class 11 is join a coaching institute, because the schools only teach the syllabus required for the board examinations. The syllabus for cracking the competitive exams for joining a college is often more than what is taught in the schools, and while it is theoretically possible to clear entrance examinations only by studying the school textbooks, this is quite rare. The school will skip several chapters from the textbook as they are not part of the boards syllabus, so you have to study those yourselves. Oh, and the entrance exams give very limited time per question, so you have to apply certain tricks or shortcuts to common questions which won’t be discussed in the theory-focused textbooks, which are riddled with flowery language and unending descriptions of the mundane.
So, coaching institutions are almost a necessity to be successful in the exams. Now, I myself didn’t take part in any such classes, instead opting for home tuitions, so I am not inherently qualified to make derogatory remarks against them, except for what is visible about them from outside. And that which is visible from outside is not pretty, to see the least.

The Rat Race

The coaching institutions are clearly humongous businesses – during results season, every available surface area of newspapers, billboards, TV and YouTube ads are plastered with the smiling faces of the toppers from that coaching institute. What the faces hide is a rotten system, built on greed and broken dreams. Let me explain.
JEE, or Joint Entrance Examination, is one of the largest examinations of the world. It is written by more than a million students each to get a seat in government funded engineering institutions for the B.Tech course, of which there are, over all the IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, a little over 54,000. Yes, you read that right – there are over a million students trying to get just fifty thousand seats! If that is not a rat race, I don’t know what is.
From the 16,000 students who took admissions in IITs in 2016, around half had studied from coaching institutions. The ratio is probably lower in the overall pool of JEE aspirants, but if you consider around 10% had taken coaching, that is still 1,00,000 students across the nation. That, in a word, is lucrative.
Again, I cannot comment on the quality of education imparted in the coaching classes, but I will leave to your imagination the learning happening in classrooms stuffed to be the brim with often hundreds of students, being taught by a teacher with no legal responsibility to teach concepts and a huge incentive to get students to rote-learn formulas. Coaching centres, after all, are not regulated by any law, as they are not schools. Students going to coaching centres instead often go to a “dummy school”, which is a school run by the coaching institutions only to conduct examinations and practicals, while all the classes take place in the coaching centre. This is why some students who crack JEE are unable to clear the 75% in boards criteria, they have never learnt the theory taught by actual schools and do not know what to write in a pen and paper exam.
Students, who are 16-18 years old, taking such coaching often spend their morning in school, afternoons in coaching centres, and evenings in self-study. In fact, engineering students often say they have to study the most before joining the college, rather than during college itself. They are taught to treat their classmates as their competitors rather than classmates, and spend upwards of two years continuously being told by relatives, teachers and parents to perform well in a ridiculously difficult exam. What do you expect to happen?
Well, what happens is this. The best students get what they dreamt of – a seat in one of India’s best colleges. This is the best case scenario, and is seen by less 1% of the students, according to our previous calculation. Mind you, not all of these are getting into a course they are interested in! It is common for students, especially in IITs, to choose whatever course is available to them in a reputed college instead of a course they actually have interest in. This is especially true for those of us interested in computer science – because of the dream of a good placement, everyone tries to get a computer science course irrespective of whether they are interested in CS or not, resulting in those actually interested in CS facing a far more difficult competition than they would have otherwise.
Most of the students instead spend lakhs and lakhs of rupees per year into something they could never have achieved – not everyone is good at physics, chemistry and maths, you can not expect them to! Some take a year off to study more and retake the exam next year – some do so several times. The vast majority either take admission into a private college, or realise this isn’t what they are meant for and move on to something else.
But, for some students, the pressure put by the family, friends, relatives and teachers over several years is too much to handle. It is then, that the absolute worst elements of the system rear their ugly heads.

The Ugly Bits

Another student kills self, Kota registers 20th suicide in 2015
Shut Down IIT Coaching Centres, Aspirant Who Killed Herself In Kota Last Week Wrote In Her Suicide Note
Two more students commit suicide in Kota, poor performance in exam suspected
Now, ‘anti-suicide’ ceiling fans to prevent suicides in India’s ‘coaching capital’ Kota
Student Allegedly Commits Suicide at Coaching Institute in Kota
Coaching student suicide in Kota: Bihar girl jumps into Chambal river, dies
IIT aspirant found hanging in hostel room in Kota, 3rd suicide in 4 days
Coaching class student committed suicide: Ahmedabad cops
3 coaching centre students die by suicide in Kota in their paying-guest rooms
Another coaching centre student dies by suicide in Rajasthan’s Kota
And these are just the ones that get reported. It is not difficult to imagine that the coaching industry, which has a revenue of 1,700 crore rupees in Kota alone, has some influence on what the media is able to report!

The Exam Itself

The entrance exam itself consists of three papers – physics, chemistry and mathematics. The course you are actually aiming for has no role to play in what subjects you have to study. What sort of logic is that? Why can’t a student like me, who wants to pursue computer science, only have to attempt those subjects which are relevant to my interests? Or, at the very least, also have to attempt the subject I am going to pursue?
Students who did not ever study computers but have studied physics, chemistry and maths, will be able to ace the entrance test and get a seat in a computer science program which they don’t even know if they are interested in, whereas a student who has had a lifelong interest in computers but not so much in physics or chemistry will be lucky to get a CS degree from a good private college, let along public universities. If they don’t, they have to get a seat wherever they can, regardless of the quality of education at the college. Or, they can leave their dreams behind and get whatever course they can from a good college, even though they have no experience or interest in the subject. how is this fair?

What Can Be Done?

  1. Shut down all coaching centres, and set the syllabus of the competitive exams to strictly follow that of the school system. The fact that the exam may be too easy is not an excuse: the cut-offs for the best institutes will naturally be the highest. The JEE Advanced paper for entrance to the IITs is one of the hardest exams in the world, whereas the IITs themselves are far from being the best colleges in the world! As an extension, shut down the culture of going to Kota to study. Students should be able to enjoy the last two years at their homes with their families before leaving for college.
  2. Ensure that schools teach with both the board exams and the competitive exams in mind.
  3. Remove the 75% in board exams eligibility criteria for giving the entrance exam. Not all students are good at theory, and it is a well known fact that, unlike government schools, private schools almost always give full marks in internal assessment to its students, making it unfair for students in public schools. For example, I got full marks in all my practicals and internal assessments in physics, chemistry and maths, which I am comfortable in sharing I did not deserve, as maths and physics are not my strong points.
  4. Add all the subjects to the entrance exam. Instead of just physics, chemistry and maths, offer subjects such as CS, geography and geology as well. Make it such that admissions to different courses have different subjects: For example, B.Tech CSE could only require maths and CS, B.Tech Metallurgy could require, for example, chemistry and geology, mechanical engineering could only require physics etc.
  5. In subjects like CS, it may be difficult for students from rural backgrounds to study CS at the school level, so the option to take CS only with marks from physics and maths could be added, and the merit from both subject combinations (and maybe others as well) could be considered.
The Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET) which was started last year, is very good in these regards because it only considers the school syllabus, it has several subjects to choose from, and different courses take merit of different subject combinations. If the engineering and medical colleges are also added to CUET, with care given to make sure different subject combinations are considered for various courses, several problems with the current system can be solved in one shot.
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2023.08.10 07:33 eyekay49 I wrote an article about the education system in India. Please let me know your thoughts!

Earlier this year, I wrote my class 12th board examinations, which marks the end of my school journey. A few days ago, I got admission in a B.Sc. Computer Science course. In the intervening four months, I realised how deeply inadequate the formal education system is. This is my experience as a survivor of this flawed system.

High School

After finishing class 10th, and ideally having passed the board examinations (I was, unfortunately, in the batch whose exams were cancelled due to COVID) the student chooses a stream – what subjects they wish to pursue in the final two years of schooling. However, more often than not what actually happens is that the student’s parents decide which stream the student wishes to pursue, which means most students take science, either the Maths group (to become an engineer) or the Biology group (to become a doctor). If the parent is more liberal, or confident in their child’s ineptitude, they may allow the child to take commerce, often to train the child to continue the family business. A few remaining stragglers take humanities. I, being a computer science nerd, was in the Maths group, so I can only speak about the engineering side of things, though I hear the situation is quite similar in most respects in the medical camp, too.
The first thing a typical science student does after joining class 11 is join a coaching institute, because the schools only teach the syllabus required for the board examinations. The syllabus for cracking the competitive exams for joining a college is often more than what is taught in the schools, and while it is theoretically possible to clear entrance examinations only by studying the school textbooks, this is quite rare. The school will skip several chapters from the textbook as they are not part of the boards syllabus, so you have to study those yourselves. Oh, and the entrance exams give very limited time per question, so you have to apply certain tricks or shortcuts to common questions which won’t be discussed in the theory-focused textbooks, which are riddled with flowery language and unending descriptions of the mundane.
So, coaching institutions are almost a necessity to be successful in the exams. Now, I myself didn’t take part in any such classes, instead opting for home tuitions, so I am not inherently qualified to make derogatory remarks against them, except for what is visible about them from outside. And that which is visible from outside is not pretty, to see the least.

The Rat Race

The coaching institutions are clearly humongous businesses – during results season, every available surface area of newspapers, billboards, TV and YouTube ads are plastered with the smiling faces of the toppers from that coaching institute. What the faces hide is a rotten system, built on greed and broken dreams. Let me explain.
JEE, or Joint Entrance Examination, is one of the largest examinations of the world. It is written by more than a million students each to get a seat in government funded engineering institutions for the B.Tech course, of which there are, over all the IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, a little over 54,000. Yes, you read that right – there are over a million students trying to get just fifty thousand seats! If that is not a rat race, I don’t know what is.
From the 16,000 students who took admissions in IITs in 2016, around half had studied from coaching institutions. The ratio is probably lower in the overall pool of JEE aspirants, but if you consider around 10% had taken coaching, that is still 1,00,000 students across the nation. That, in a word, is lucrative.
Again, I cannot comment on the quality of education imparted in the coaching classes, but I will leave to your imagination the learning happening in classrooms stuffed to be the brim with often hundreds of students, being taught by a teacher with no legal responsibility to teach concepts and a huge incentive to get students to rote-learn formulas. Coaching centres, after all, are not regulated by any law, as they are not schools. Students going to coaching centres instead often go to a “dummy school”, which is a school run by the coaching institutions only to conduct examinations and practicals, while all the classes take place in the coaching centre. This is why some students who crack JEE are unable to clear the 75% in boards criteria, they have never learnt the theory taught by actual schools and do not know what to write in a pen and paper exam.
Students, who are 16-18 years old, taking such coaching often spend their morning in school, afternoons in coaching centres, and evenings in self-study. In fact, engineering students often say they have to study the most before joining the college, rather than during college itself. They are taught to treat their classmates as their competitors rather than classmates, and spend upwards of two years continuously being told by relatives, teachers and parents to perform well in a ridiculously difficult exam. What do you expect to happen?
Well, what happens is this. The best students get what they dreamt of – a seat in one of India’s best colleges. This is the best case scenario, and is seen by less 1% of the students, according to our previous calculation. Mind you, not all of these are getting into a course they are interested in! It is common for students, especially in IITs, to choose whatever course is available to them in a reputed college instead of a course they actually have interest in. This is especially true for those of us interested in computer science – because of the dream of a good placement, everyone tries to get a computer science course irrespective of whether they are interested in CS or not, resulting in those actually interested in CS facing a far more difficult competition than they would have otherwise.
Most of the students instead spend lakhs and lakhs of rupees per year into something they could never have achieved – not everyone is good at physics, chemistry and maths, you can not expect them to! Some take a year off to study more and retake the exam next year – some do so several times. The vast majority either take admission into a private college, or realise this isn’t what they are meant for and move on to something else.
But, for some students, the pressure put by the family, friends, relatives and teachers over several years is too much to handle. It is then, that the absolute worst elements of the system rear their ugly heads.

The Ugly Bits

Another student kills self, Kota registers 20th suicide in 2015
Shut Down IIT Coaching Centres, Aspirant Who Killed Herself In Kota Last Week Wrote In Her Suicide Note
Two more students commit suicide in Kota, poor performance in exam suspected
Now, ‘anti-suicide’ ceiling fans to prevent suicides in India’s ‘coaching capital’ Kota
Student Allegedly Commits Suicide at Coaching Institute in Kota
Coaching student suicide in Kota: Bihar girl jumps into Chambal river, dies
IIT aspirant found hanging in hostel room in Kota, 3rd suicide in 4 days
Coaching class student committed suicide: Ahmedabad cops
3 coaching centre students die by suicide in Kota in their paying-guest rooms
Another coaching centre student dies by suicide in Rajasthan’s Kota
And these are just the ones that get reported. It is not difficult to imagine that the coaching industry, which has a revenue of 1,700 crore rupees in Kota alone, has some influence on what the media is able to report!

The Exam Itself

The entrance exam itself consists of three papers – physics, chemistry and mathematics. The course you are actually aiming for has no role to play in what subjects you have to study. What sort of logic is that? Why can’t a student like me, who wants to pursue computer science, only have to attempt those subjects which are relevant to my interests? Or, at the very least, also have to attempt the subject I am going to pursue?
Students who did not ever study computers but have studied physics, chemistry and maths, will be able to ace the entrance test and get a seat in a computer science program which they don’t even know if they are interested in, whereas a student who has had a lifelong interest in computers but not so much in physics or chemistry will be lucky to get a CS degree from a good private college, let along public universities. If they don’t, they have to get a seat wherever they can, regardless of the quality of education at the college. Or, they can leave their dreams behind and get whatever course they can from a good college, even though they have no experience or interest in the subject. how is this fair?

What Can Be Done?

  1. Shut down all coaching centres, and set the syllabus of the competitive exams to strictly follow that of the school system. The fact that the exam may be too easy is not an excuse: the cut-offs for the best institutes will naturally be the highest. The JEE Advanced paper for entrance to the IITs is one of the hardest exams in the world, whereas the IITs themselves are far from being the best colleges in the world! As an extension, shut down the culture of going to Kota to study. Students should be able to enjoy the last two years at their homes with their families before leaving for college.
  2. Ensure that schools teach with both the board exams and the competitive exams in mind.
  3. Remove the 75% in board exams eligibility criteria for giving the entrance exam. Not all students are good at theory, and it is a well known fact that, unlike government schools, private schools almost always give full marks in internal assessment to its students, making it unfair for students in public schools. For example, I got full marks in all my practicals and internal assessments in physics, chemistry and maths, which I am comfortable in sharing I did not deserve, as maths and physics are not my strong points.
  4. Add all the subjects to the entrance exam. Instead of just physics, chemistry and maths, offer subjects such as CS, geography and geology as well. Make it such that admissions to different courses have different subjects: For example, B.Tech CSE could only require maths and CS, B.Tech Metallurgy could require, for example, chemistry and geology, mechanical engineering could only require physics etc.
  5. In subjects like CS, it may be difficult for students from rural backgrounds to study CS at the school level, so the option to take CS only with marks from physics and maths could be added, and the merit from both subject combinations (and maybe others as well) could be considered.
The Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET) which was started last year, is very good in these regards because it only considers the school syllabus, it has several subjects to choose from, and different courses take merit of different subject combinations. If the engineering and medical colleges are also added to CUET, with care given to make sure different subject combinations are considered for various courses, several problems with the current system can be solved in one shot.
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