The Rare Earth “Bomb"

Rare earth minerals are exotic materials used in the production of sophisticated batteries such as those environmentally-acceptable in cars we are planning. Unfortunately, those minerals are available mainly from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, part of China.

Rare earth export is strictly controlled by China, which thus makes rare earth politically and economically-sensitive for the U.S. The use of the minerals on a large scale puts us at an immediate disadvantage.

Do we have any rare earth? Yes and no.

We have a deposit in California but the environmentalists will get first crack at preventing its development.

Don’t they always?