Canada
has significant quantities of rare earths locked in black shale
deposits (the Alberta Black Shale Project) that were previously not
recoverable unless large amounts of cyanide and arsenic are used to
liquefy the ores — a process that is considered dangerous and
illegal in many parts of the world. Now, a more cost-effective and
environmentally friendly new technology that uses water, air and
microbes (a technique known as bioheap leaching) can be used to
release the rare earth from the black shale deposits. The new
technology has a limited track record — only one mine (operated by
Finland’s Talvivaara Mining Company Plc.) is producing metals with
bioheap leaching technology. Toronto-based DNI Metals, a junior mining company, has said it needs
$1 billion to get the project going.
Several
other Canadian mines show great potential.
AvalonRare Metals Inc.’s Nechalacho Rare Earth Element
Project located at Thor Lake in the Mackenzie Mining District of the
Northwest Territories, has exceptional wealth of heavy rare earth
elements. Avalon estimated a 2015 possible start date for full
capacity production.
Great
Western Minerals Group Ltd.’s
Hoidas Lake Project (located in northern Saskatchewan) has one
of the highest proportions of neodymium present in any known rare
earth deposit. The company was working on designing an optimal
concentration/leaching process with the goal of starting production
in 2015-16.
In
July 2011, Midland
Exploration Inc.
started exploration with state-backed Japan Oil, Gas and Metals
National Corp. on its Québec rare earth project, Ytterby.
Pele
Mountain Resources is focused on the sustainable
development of its Eco Ridge Mine Uranium and Rare Earth Elements
Project, located in Elliot Lake, Ontario.
Matamec
Explorations Inc. is exploring its Zeus property in the
Temiscamingue region of Québec. Toyota Tsusho Corp. has signed a
non-binding memorandum of understanding with Matamec to fast-track
development of the Kipawa deposit in order to secure a supply of
heavy rare earths used in the production of Toyota’s hybrid and
electric vehicles.
Quest
Minerals Ltd is
currently advancing several rare earth projects in the Strange Lake
and Misery Lake areas of northeastern Québec.
Cache
Exploration Inc.
is exploring the Welsford rare earth properties in New Brunswick, and
the Cross Hills and Louil Hills rare earth properties in
Newfoundland.
Kirrin
Resources Inc. operates rare earth exploration
projects in Newfoundland & Labrador and Québec.
Rare
earth potential has been confirmed on Forum
Uranium Corp.’s North Thelon Project in Nunavut.
Other
Canadian-based rare earth explorers and miners are developing mines
in Canada and around the world. Nova Scotia-based Ucore
Rare Metals Inc. is exploring a project on Bokan Mountain
in Alaska, and Toronto-based Stans
Energy Corp. is progressing heavy rare earth properties in
the Former Soviet Union.
