Very Rare
Very Rare
China Makes Rare Earth Even Rarer
Analysts at Asian Green Technology Holdings, Ltd. explore the rare earth situation and the impact of China's change in export quotas and the new guidelines set up.
China's State Council has issued a national guideline to promote sustainable and healthy development of the nation's rare earth Industry. China's exports of rare-earth ores and metals in the first four months this year rose 33% on year to 18,614 metric tons, even as Beijing orders drastic cuts to the country's rare-earth exports. The data supplied by Hong Kong-based Economic Information Agency suggests that even as the government has repeatedly vowed to crack down on illegal mining and tighten control over supply, its reach on reducing actual exports may be more limited.
In a statement, the commerce ministry announced that iron alloys containing more than 10% of rare earths will fall under the export quota starting Friday. The guideline says special campaigns will be launched to crack down on illegal mining activities and excessive production, and greater efforts will be made to combat practices that pollute the environment and damage the ecology. The campaigns will also target illegal exports and smuggling of rare earths.
Rare earths minerals are exotic minerals with strange names such cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, and neodymium. Rare earth minerals are vital materials used in the manufacture of high-tech items. Important items manufactured using rare earths include most consumer electronics, hybrid car batteries, powerful magnets, weapons guidance systems, and most renewable energy technologies. China is the nation that controls the world market; this is largely due to Western mining standards that make it impossible to compete with China in this environmentally hazardous process. The Chinese are believed to own one-third of the world's reserves of these strategically important minerals and produce more than 90% of world production. In addition, China plans to build a strategic reserve stockpile of rare earths. This is good news for those smart investors who are already positioned in this thin market sector but it is extremely troubling for those manufacturers who depend on reliable, affordable, supplies. With world-wide demand soaring prices of these vital must-have minerals will continue to sky-rocket regardless of China's quotas and guidelines.
The Chinese shift in rare earth mineral policies has prompted many solutions to the scarcity of this vital resource. The Japanese have already set a goal of reducing the amount of rare earths imported by one third, with the country now seeking to lead the world in rare earth recycling. Last year, a diplomatic spat between Japan and China led the world's largest supplier of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) to suspend exports of Rare Earth oxides and other critical metals to its largest single client. China, which mines more than 90 percent of the world's rare earth, has exported 6,000 tons, or 49.8%, of its total rare earth to Japan. While recycling is very expensive, the government of Japan has been instrumental in getting the recycling of REs underway and has both instituted subsidies and facilitated inter-industry cooperation. The Japanese Ministry of Trade has provided a third of a billion dollars in subsidies, which has been used as seed money for some 160 projects worth $1.34 billion. That number will increase as the Japanese government is offering another 8.9 billion yen in subsidies in the next fiscal year. Japan is also investing heavily in research. Scientists at the University of Tokyo recently succeeded in separating REEs from neodymium magnets through a new, much cheaper recycling process. The Japanese have set a goal of reducing the amount of REs imported by its domestic industry by one third which is a step in the right direction towards reduced dependence on Chinese minerals.
About the Author
About Asian Green Technology Holdings, Ltd.:
Asian Green Technology Holdings, Ltd. is a private holding company specializing in the acquisitions of both technology companies and industrial patents in environmental sectors. Established for the consolidation of green businesses and technologies starting in Asia and then reaching outward, Asian Green Technology Holdings will leverage its assets, both cash assets raised from qualified investors and those brought in through corporate acquisitions, to grow and effectively bring more environmental concerns into its fold.
Is it rare for people to have black hair and very blue eyes?
My father is German and my mother is an Israeli Jew (I know an odd combination), I have very light blue eyes, pale skin, and almost jet black hair. It is something I rarely see personally. Is it actually very rare?
It depends where you live. I live in the UK and it's very common here- my boyfriend has the same colouring as you.
Very Rare
Proof and Eminem Freestyle *Very Rare*
|
|
Very Rare $14.21 Very Rare |
|
|
Very Rare (Import) $11.03 Very Rare (Import) |
|
|
Very R.A.R.E. $35.87 Dynamic drummer {$Elvin Jones} led two different units on the eight selections featured on this disc of late-'70s material. The first six were done in New York during 1978 and include {$Jones} spearheading a great band with {$Art Pepper} on three selectio |
|
|
A Very Rare Large Cinnamon Bear, 1907 $34.99 Steiff A Very Rare Large Cinnamon Bear, 1907 - Giclee Print |
Why Collect Rare Collectibles?
The Nature of Rare Collectibles.
As their name suggests, all rare collectibles are scarce, hard to find items. They can be antiques that are desirable because of their age, type of craftsmanship or some other unique feature that represents the past. Some rare collectibles are so old that they are considered to be antiquities - artifacts of an ancient civilization such as ancient Greek or ancient Chinese society. Alternatively, rare collectibles can be of very recent origin, sometimes being only a few years old.
The common denominator of all rare collectibles, no matter what their type or age, is rarity. Frequently, because of their scarcity and their appeal, rare collectibles are also valuable. But whether they are valuable or inexpensive, rare collectibles are always important pieces in a collection.
Rare is ...
The definition of "rare" or "rarity" changes with the type of object, and accordingly, the definition of "rare collectibles" is somewhat imprecise - there is no strict line of demarcation between what is "rare" and what is "not rare." In some instances an item is considered to be a rare collectible because only one or two examples of that object are known to exist in the entire world. In other cases, hundreds or even thousands of a particular object may have survived to the present, but because their existence has not yet been discovered (such as very old porcelain dolls that were kept in a trunk that is now buried in an attic) or they are fragile and easily damaged (such as pottery, an early postage stamp or a 200 year-old piece of paper ephemera), high quality examples are considered to be scarce.
Almost Any Type of Object Can Become a Rare Collectible, if Scarce Enough.
Thousands of different types of rare collectibles exist throughout the world. Certain coins and postage stamps, books and manuscripts, pottery, weapons and other militaria, antique tools, original artwork, antique furniture, and paper ephemera can all be rare collectibles. "Paper ephemera" consists of written or printed material that has survived to the present despite the fact that the pieces were originally produced as disposable items, intended to be quickly discarded or destroyed. Examples of ephemera that can be rare collectibles include certain postcards, posters, trade cards, leaflets, exposition programs and advertising flyers, all common enough at the time, but mostly thrown away almost immediately. Some autographs, travel souvenirs and collectible memorabilia are also rare collectibles.
Rare collectibles can be from anywhere in the world and from any culture. Rare Oriental collectibles include small items such as Chinese Dynastic pottery or temple objects, as well as large items such as articles of traditional clothing or armor from the Japanese feudal period. European rare collectibles are equally varied, and range from ancient Greek statuary to the beautifully illuminated (illustrated) maps that were drawn by early cartographers during the Age of Exploration in the 16th Century. Collectible, rare objects from the Americas include certain pieces of Native American (Indian) pottery, blankets or beadwork, original historical documents from Colonial or Revolutionary times, and ancient Inca, Aztec or Maya amulets, pottery and carvings.
Why Collect Rare Collectibles?
Many people seek out rare collectibles because of their inherent value. For these people, rare collectibles are a form of investment. But the primary motivation for many other collectors is the "thrill of the hunt" - that certain sense of satisfaction that is felt when a very hard to find piece is tracked down and finally located somewhere in the world.
About the Author
Diane Hamments is a freelance author who writes on various subjects including Rare Collectibles , Collectables and Memorabilia. Visit www.societygifts.com. for more information.
|
|
Libbey Polaris Drinking Glasses and Tumblers, Set of 16 $26.99 A Contemporary glass part of our new heavy base collection. The glasses have a rounded heavy base that is 1-inch thick. It creates a clean contemporary look. The heavy base is rich looking. Large capacity is also a bonus with these glasses.... |
|
|
Three By Three Seattle Tiny Mighties Magnets, 0.125 Inches Diameter, Chrome, 16 Pack (20500) $7.99 At 1/8 inch in diameter these chromed Tiny Mighties are surprisingly strong for their size, yet so small they're almost invisible. These ultra strong magnets are commonly referred to as neodymium magnets or rare earth magnets. One Tiny Mighty is strong enough to hold 3 sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. This set includes 16 magnets, from Three By Three Seattle.... |
|
|
HELLO KITTY TOASTER KT5211 VERY RARE AND COOL $36.99 If you think Hello Kitty is so cute that you just want to eat her up, go right ahead! This colorful 2-slot toaster browns Kitty's sweet face onto every slice of bread. The appliance features 7 shade settings and 4 toasting modes: bagel, defrost, reheat and cancel. Extra-wide slots let you warm thick slices, and a removable crumb tray makes cleanup easy. The decorative cool-touch exterior looks che... |
|
|
Stars: The Best of the Cranberries, 1992-2002 $6.71 CRANBERRIES THE STARS - THE BEST OF 1992/2002... |
|
|
Keystone Berkeley: September 1, 1974 $14.86 Track listing: Disc One: 1. Neighbor, Neighbor 2. Keepers 3. Sitting In Limbo 4. Favela 5. Tough Mama 6. La La Disc Two: 1. Someday Baby 2. Think 3. Roadrunner 4. The Harder They Come 5. I Second That Emotion 6. Going, Going, Gone Disc Three: 1. Soul Ranch 2. Mystery Train 3. Wondering Why 4. People Make The World Go Round 5. Keystone Jam 6. It's Too Late 7. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down... |
Very Rare