SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : The Trump Presidency
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
Recommended by:
bentway
CentralParkRanger
To: Sam who wrote (337680)6/9/2025 3:15:33 PM
From: combjelly2 Recommendations  Read Replies (1) of 360196
 
As I have posted before, rare earths are neither 'earths' nor 'rare'. Even economic deposits are common. It is just the refining is so expensive for the very reasons that they are now valuable. They are all so chemically similar that the differences in quantum effects become noticeable and can be exploited. However, to get pure elements takes a lot of expensive equipment and generates nasty wastes. Given that it has been a low margin business, it was both ripe for offshoring or being shutdown totally.

And here we are. We need to invest billions to get the capability back. We only need to do it because Trump did a stupid. One can argue that we need to do it anyway. But on a crash schedule makes it more expensive, maybe even orders of magnitude more. Certainly some multiple.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2026 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News