Nickel

CB Online says Quantum Rare Earth Developments has reported discovering a large niobium deposit in southeast Nebraska. The underground carbonatite formation has potential to become one of the world's largest sources of niobium, used in high-production steel and superalloys. Watch the interview with CEO Peter Dickie on BNN.

First Quantum Minerals posted a US$455 million profit in the third quarter, the Vancouver-based company reported on Tuesday. That compares with $227 million in earnings in the three months ended December 31, 2009. Sales of copper in Q3 were down from the same period last year, from 98,171 tonnes in Q3 2009 to 76,290 in the third quarter of 2010. However, the company ended the year with $1.385 billion in its treasury compared to $959 million in the previous year's Q3.

Formation Metals Inc. (TSX:FCO) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce it has completed the equity financing (the “Financing”) announced on January 27, […]

Pancontinental Uranium Corporation (TSX VENTURE:PUC) (“Pancon”) and its joint venture partner Crossland Uranium Mines Limited (“Crossland”) (ASX:CUX) are pleased to provide the […]

HudBay Minerals posted some big gains in its fourth-quarter and year-end financials, the Toronto-based miner reported on Wednesday. Net earnings in Q4 2010 more than tripled to $24.5 million, compared to $7.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Year-end numbers were also impressive, with net earnings of $73 million — a 475% increase over 2009 after adjusting for gains on the sale of investments, the company stated.

New York Times says that Malaysia is placing a big bet on rare earth metals: As many as 2,500 construction workers will […]

Franconia shareholders have approved an agreement whereby Duluth will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Franconia, and Franconia will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Duluth. Franconia's assets are expected to be rolled into Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, a Duluth (60%) and Antofagasta plc (40%) joint venture.

Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX-V:UCU) announced the first NI 43-101 compliant independent resource estimate for the company's 100%-owned Bokan Mountain rare earth element (REE) project in southeastern Alaska. The resource estimate was prepared by Aurora Geosciences Ltd. ("Aurora") of Yellowknife, NWT which recommends that the deposit merits additional drilling, metallurgical research and economic investigation.

The head of China's largest metals trader has called for government efforts to consolidate the rare earth industry and nurture competitive domestic firms in the sector. Zhou Zhongshu, president of China Minmetals, said that the difficulties facing China's rare earth industry mainly come from the fact that local authorities, owners of rare earth mines, tend to issue mining licenses to local firms.