Comments on: Steenkampskraal: An Update

By: Charles Kenny

Charles Kenny — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:37:27 +0000

Hi Gareth,

Please pass along my best wishes for success with the project to Mr. Blench. I believe Trump and I used to dig in the dirt together about 50+ years ago…

By: Gareth Hatch

Gareth Hatch — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 02:37:06 +0000

@gatling: Electron Energy Corporation produces its own alloys from constituent metals. Great Western Minerals Group owns the Less Common Metals facility in the UK, which also produces alloys from metals. Thus the potential synergies are significantly more near term, than the timeframe in which Steenkampskraal will get up and running.

By: gatling

gatling — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 23:55:22 +0000

electron energy is a “proud supplier” to the dept of defense & it seems by glancing at their website that the DOD is a large proportion of their business. I also saw the news release in late january & thought it a little odd or perhaps abit early since great western is still a couple of years away from producing usable materials. Electron enregy does its own “refining” which would be expected from a DOD supplier. Looks like a good partner/contract for great western

By: Gareth Hatch

Gareth Hatch — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:21:44 +0000

@Tek: nice quote – will have to steal that from you :-)

@Bob M: the term “law-abiding” is obviously relative, but it seems to be a stable part of the country.

@u4eah: we didn’t go into the mine itself, no, as the railings, ladders etc. into the steep shaft down haven’t been refurbished yet. I’m not sure it was Mickey Fulp who said what you quoted above, but I’m not going to go there :-) Great Western will be refurbishing the mine entrance, of course, with new equipment, and all of the logistics for that are underway, and will no doubt be reviewed by the authorities before the project is executed.

@Steve Schultz: Yes, it will take a while to get the processing facilities built, in addition to refurbishing the existing mine itself.

@Wanda Reglin: each phase of the overall project at Steenkampskraal has to be approved by the local authorities, so there is always the potential for roadblocks. I am not aware of anything significant that would stand in the way of moving things along at the pace that Great Western has stated.

Great Western is already doing alloying research work for the US government in its Michigan facility.

@Tekton: yes, the material could be loaded and exported in that way, except for the fact that the thorium contained within has to be dealt with, and the current plans require that it be removed and stored on-site.

That part of Southern Africa is known as the Karoo region, with some interesting geographic features.

By: Wanda Reglin

Wanda Reglin — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:26:02 +0000

Excellent article just released …new info to me regarding no separation facilites outside of China. Interesting perspective in the level of US National Security

http://oilprice.com/Metals/Commodities/Rare-Earth-Prices-Soaring-Will-Miners-Play-Catch-Up.html

By: fran

fran — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:44:37 +0000

WANDA REGLIN–

i doubt DOD will ever nake[allow to be made] statements identifying sources of REE suppliers. DOD is in fact an impediment to total free flow of REE info in the USA, for their obvious reasons.

By: Wanda Reglin

Wanda Reglin — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 05:26:16 +0000

fran-
I indeed saw that press release back on the date of release.1/31/11, does not answer my question as it is not a direct military contract. No idea what the second part of your statement means.
But thanks anyhow…take care and good luck with your research.
Still interested in what Gareth and Jack Lifton may have to say.

By: Tekton

Tekton — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 23:28:02 +0000

I note that the grading of the spoil piles has been revised to 7% (it was at 9%). As I recall the above ground “waste” piles total about 85 KMT, resulting in 6-7,000 MT of TREO. What the rock in the mine is rated at for quantity and quality, I don’t know. But it is apparent that nearly all of the materials could be readily loaded and exported to a refining facility, with no mining required. That should be enough for GWG to run their operations for two or three years before they’d have to commence new mining. That’s pretty good for a start.

The landscape looks amazingly like any western US high desert.

By: fran

fran — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:42:18 +0000

WANDA REGLIN–

see GWG press release 1/31/2011, GWG to supply USA vendor ELECTRON ENERGY CORP Re: your querry on military contract.

GWG not ready yet with more than ore for existing contractor.

By: Wanda Reglin

Wanda Reglin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 01:32:20 +0000

My question would be similar to the last post regarding the potential of loose material and the time frame for production of these? Road blocks?
Also I am interested in either your’s or Jack Lifton’s thoughts on the possibility of GWG securing a US Military contract given GWG’s early and exclusive integrated potential?
Thanks Gareth