Rare

China has responded to US tariffs attacking one of its weak points: rare earths

by

As expected, the Chinese government has not been left with a crossed arms before The tariffs prepared by the USA. Just 24 hours after Donald Trump releases the taxes to be applied to The importation of most products Coming from abroad, the administration led by Xi Jinping has responded. And he has done it with forcefulness. On April 10 China will impose a 34% tariff to all imports from the US. The choice of that day is not casual. And is that the tariffs approved by the Donald Trump administration will take effect on April 9. Just a day before. Presumably the Chinese government has chosen to keep a few days of margin in the hope of reaching an agreement with its American counterpart and relax a little tension. China has decided to press the US more than ever with rare earths China’s response to the US does not only go through new tariffs; He has also chosen to suspend the import licenses of the products belonging to six US companies, as well as imposing more controls on the export of some rare earths. This is not at all the first time that the Xi Jinping government decides to pressure the US and its allies establishing limitations to the export of these raw materials. In fact, on December 21, 2023 the Chinese administration decided to restrict export of some of its rare earth processing technologies, shaping a maneuver that pursues defend their strategic interests in full confrontation with the US and its allies. And at the beginning of December 2024 He chose to prohibit The export of critical minerals to the US. On December 21, 2023, the Chinese administration decided to restrict the export of some of its rare earth processing technologies Among them are three essential chemical elements for the semiconductor industry (Gallium, Germanio and Antimony), as well as some materials that are characterized by their extreme hardness, and which, therefore, can be used for military applications. An important note before moving forward: Rare earths are a real treasure. To this peculiar group of chemical elements belong some metals as elusive and with names as suggestive as neodymium, promised, gadolinium, ititrium or scandio, among others. Some of them are relatively scarce, and, in addition, they are not usually found purely in nature, but what makes them so special are their physicochemical properties. Its characteristics are beyond the reach of the other elements of the periodic table, which has caused that during the last decades they are consolidated as A very valuable resource In numerous industries, especially in those of semiconductors, electronics and renewable energies. This is the reason why rare earths They are so important to the US. We still do not know what reach the new export controls of the rare earths that the Ministry of Commerce of China has just approved, but as soon as we have more information we will include it in this article. The cards are on the table. The US and China still have five days ahead to reach an agreement before their new taxes enter into force. We will see if they are really willing to relax the tension. Even if it’s just a bit. Image | Lio voo More information | CN Wire In Xataka | The US will not be able to contain the technological development of China. Experts from the chips industry forecast it

Male routines are increasingly rare

by

They are almost four in the morning. While most are still asleep, there are those who believe that is the perfect time to begin to conquer success. It is not just waking up early, it is to follow a millimeter routine that mixes extreme discipline, self -care and sport. A man has taken him to the limit, and his video has gone viral. The new sensation. On X/Twitter, the @Tipsforenx account has published a Reel which has become a viral sensation on that network. However, the Original video I accumulate in Tiktok more than 8 million like and has been displayed more than 99 million times. In it we can Ashton Halla influencer Fitness, carrying out an extreme morning routine where he gets up at 3:52 in the morning to start the day. The routine The clip shows Hall taking off the Mouth Tapingwashing his teeth and prowling before exercising on the balcony. Then decide to read (two minutes, because the whole video is marked by times), write or manifest (a usual practice in these routines) and watch some videos on the mobile. Then, fill a bowl with water with gas from the blue bottle that always carries. Once ready, immerse the face in that bowl, and then we dress to train. Finally, he returns home, where a banana is shower and eats, which restrges the peel by the face. It’s already 9:00 in the morning and, again, put the face in ice with ice And, later, he is seen preparing what appears to be a podcast while preparing breakfast. @ashtonhall forgicial Day 191 of The Morning Routine That Changed My Life 3:50 am to 9:30 am without Lives Late at night .. If you’re dealing with a Weak Mind, Bad Decions, Or Lack of Productivity Go To Sleep Early. 4:00 am – 8:00 am not’s calling or distracting your productivity .. they are located. 8:00 pm – 12:00 am is the opposite. Just Try 30 Days .. Send This to Your Partners. It’s time to do Better. ♬ Original Sound – Worthy Supps “Morning Skincare Routine”. The morning routines of self -care began to become very viral in Tiktok, especially among womenwho showed their morning with a Morning Sheds followed by A little one Vlog With your exercise routine and personal care. In fact, these practices, when not taken to the extreme, can be beneficial for both physical and mental health, according to He explained Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist from Stanford University. However, this phenomenon has gained popularity among men, who seek to project an organized, productive and successful life, aligned with the constant pressure of optimizing every minute, as we can see in the video of Ashton Hall. In other words, the desire to maximize personal performance, but also a pressure on the physical and image. The cult of the body. The male aesthetic pressure and the obsession with appearance have been driven by the phenomenon of the looksmaxxingwhich implies the effort to achieve a “perfect look” through rigorous physical training routines, aesthetic surgery and personal care. As has detailed in Newtralthis type of culture reflects an obsession to maximize personal attractiveness, which leads many to invest in their image as a way of obtaining social and economic validation. In Xataka We have analyzed How this movement is not only related to fitness, but also to extreme self -care, reflecting a desire to meet aesthetic ideals imposed by social networks To achieve the status of “alpha”. Self -care, accompanied by strict exercise routines and habits such as skin care or supplements, has become essential in this approach to success. Influencers and investors They make their image A reflection of its financial success, associating aesthetic perfection with personal and professional achievement, in a cycle promoted by constant productivity expectations and social validation. The viralization. Ashton Hall’s video has quickly gone viral, generating parodies and imitations. However, what it does show is a trend between influencers, entrepreneurs and cryptoinversors promoting habits to “achieve success.” What was previously typical of elite athletes or military forces, has now transformed into an aspirational standard Within certain male circles. Beyond exaggeration and parody, this trend is pending among many men, establishing a new self -care code. In this new type of care, it coexists to hydrate the skin, meditate or make flexions at 4:00 in the morning in the same routine. In short, although in many cases these practices are adopted by social pressure or by obsession with productivity, they are gradually redefining the meaning of male self -care, with implications that deserve a deep reflection. Image | Ashton Hall Xataka | An intriguing fashion is taking over the facial routine of thousands of women in Tiktok: LED masks

Extremadura has decided to explore an energy “treasure” under his feet: rare earth deposits

by

In recent days, we have heard a lot about “rare earths.” This last obsession of the US president, Donald Trump, has infected everyone and We have followed closely your insatiable search by different parts of the world as Greenland either Ukraine. However, this desire for the dominance of this element is due, among things, that China is the giant that It dominates it. However, to the surprise of many, Extremadura handles the hypothesis that houses a potential of four deposits of rare earths. Short. The Board of Extremadura granted a license In August 2024 to explore an area of ​​49,500 hectares, which will cover 20 municipalities of the Cáceres de los Ibores and scratch field. For its part, indications of the presence of rare earths have also been confirmed in the Badajoz area. An opening for Europe. This new finding marks a new path to Europe, since it needs its own reservations to reduce its dependence on third countries. Francisco Fernández, delegate of the College of Geologists of Extremadura (ICOG), He explained: “The geological characteristics of Extremadura are favorable to house rare earth deposits”, although it is still in a preliminary phase. However, it has not ruled out the possibility that in deposits already exploited from metals I can host these elements. In addition, more than five years ago there were previous work where there had been search for mining resources in the area. The work, entitled “Mining Resources of Extremadura, Rocks and Industrial Minerals”was commissioned by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, and placed the deposits in the Pacenses localities of Bartrota and Burguillos del Cerro, and in a cacereña, Alía. Spain has potential. The deposits are not reduced only to Extremadura. Spain has a wide variety of elements to extract and different areas for it. In particular, rare earths can find them in Galicia, Gran Canaria, Almería, Ciudad Realamong other places. The fan that has been opened is very wide, but these deposits have in common not only the element, but their extraction seems to be complex. However, another thing that does not remain and we can affirm that we have is ingenuity. In Spain, the formula has been found to stop depending on other countries to obtain rare earths, and It is by recycling. From a recycling plant, valuable elements are recovered through a process of merger at high temperatures. Other critical minerals. Ester Boixereu, an expert in Mineral and Vocal Resources of ICOG, in an interview for Radio 5, has detailed That rare earths are a critical mineral, but that the list of critical minerals in turn is a “very long list of elements.” In addition, he added that rare earth minerals have a peculiarity, and are not difficult names, but do not form their own minerals. In other words, it is difficult to find a high concentration of these elements, since they are all together in a series of minerals. On the other hand, Extremadura has a lot to offer, as it has great potential for minerals and is also in plans to carry out a Great Lithium Mine. However, making a more general photograph, Spain He is highlighting In the EU as a power in other productions such as copper, wolframium, graphite, vanadium and cobalt, among others. A long road. Despite the potential, rare earth mining is not immediate or simple. Despite the advance in extraction technologies to significantly reduce the environmental impact, there are still concerns about past cases such as that of Aznalcóllar. For this reason, Spanish legislation requires rigorous environmental controls before authorizing any mining exploitation to ensure care of the environment. Image | Pexels Xataka | Europe has been trapped between two powers: US and Russia already discuss the controversial Nord Stream 2 on their own

The US believes to have a “treasure” with the rare earths of Ukraine. Everything is born from a outdated Soviet report 50 years ago

by

Today, Friday, February 28, Presidents Volodymir Zelensky and Donald Trump They will meet in Washington to discuss and sign the agreement on the mineral resources of Ukraine. This alliance will give the United States a control over the country’s natural resources, a measure that Trump has promoted These last days. However, estimates on this aspect are based on reports of the former USSR for more than 50 years ago. The famous “rare earths”. I think we have heard of the “rare earths” these days and, in this same medium, We have deepened the subject Exposing the arguments of two energy experts, which have confirmed that talking about “rare earths” is a mistake. However, the global S&P medium He has been able to demonstrate Where does that speculation come from, it has only had to dust off some old documents of the former Soviet Union. More than 50 years ago. The geological report of the Soviet era that is using Ukraine to evaluate its “rare earth” deposits focuses on an exploration made between 1960 and 1990. It is true that the technology of the moment and the methods were very different from the current ones. According to experts Consulted by S&P Globalthe data used to estimate mineral resources have not been updated since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. In addition, some of the deposits are in areas of difficult access and require more advanced technologies for extraction, as is the case of Novopoltavske, located in the Zaporizhia region, due to hydrogeological mining conditions. This mine, according to the report, contains phosphates, rare earths and niobium. On the other hand, currently, you cannot access the territories occupied by Russia, as in the Donetsk region, where the Azovske and Mazurivske quarries are located. Were these deposits exploited in the USSR? According to the report with more than five decades, they knew about them and explored them, but were not completely exploited on a large scale. The impediments went through a lack of structure, the complexity to access the deposits and technological limitations of the time. After the dissolution of the USSR, the mining projects in the Ukraine area stagnated and no attempted development was made in a postsoviet era. What will happen today? United States and Ukraine They will sign a treaty For a Ukraine reconstruction fund, partially financed with the income of its mineral reserves. Ukraine has agreed to contribute 50% of its future income derived from critical mineral mining such as cobalt, lithium, titanium and rare earths. In return, United States It would help develop The mining infrastructure necessary to extract these resources, but analysts consider that real benefits could take many years to materialize. In addition, the US will be co -owner of the Fund to the extent allowed by its legislation and promises long -term financial commitment, but the agreement It does not specify amounts, deadlines or details about the management of the fund, which generates uncertainty about its real implementation. However, there is a key fact that has been overlooked: currently, Ukraine does not produce rare earths at the commercial level. Although it has reservations, the infrastructure necessary to extract them still does not exist. According to the United States Geological Service, Ukraine has Scandio depositsone of the 17 elements of rare earths, but its large -scale extraction has not begun. Is it really so essential for the US? We have already told. On the one hand, Trump seeks to lead global mineral resources and impose himself on China. On the other hand, analysts They have mentioned that Ukraine should produce 20% of the world’s rare land for more than 150 years to reach the 500,000 million dollars of value that Trump has mentioned. In addition, as indicated in the report, the value of deposits may not justify the investment in its extraction, which makes Trump’s interest not completely clear from an economic perspective. To this is added the lack of clarity On the previous help of the US: Trump has mentioned between 300,000 and 350,000 million dollars, but the Kiel Institute has estimated that the real figure is 119,000 million. It should be remembered that Ukraine has a notable production of other strategic minerals. Before the war, Galio produced, used in semiconductors and biomedical applications, and contributed 2% of the world’s bromine production, essential in flame retarders. In addition, it produced ilmenite, a key mineral concentrate for obtaining titanium, a metal with military applications. However, the war has stopped the production of manganese and alumina, fundamental for the manufacture of steel and aluminum. And about the occupied territory? Access to mineral deposits in territory occupied by Russia depends on an eventual resolution of the conflict, adding another layer of uncertainty to the agreement. It also follows a key issue in the air: Zelensky sought to include security guarantees for Ukraine, but The agreement does not explicitly mention them. Although the text says that the US will support “Ukraine efforts to obtain security guarantees,” does not establish specific commitments or defense mechanisms in case of aggression. Without them, the real impact of the treaty remains uncertain. Trump and Putin. All this conflict is even more complicated if we add the layer of the relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, who have talked again, and the Russian leader even has offered preferential access to the natural resources of your country, showing willing to negotiate the end of the conflict. Despite these “advances”, the possible concessions that Trump could accept, such as Ukraine renounces NATO, they worry both kyiv and Europe. They fear that these agreements can make safety in the region even more unstable. And the cake wid. The agreement Mention explicitly That future negotiations on the fund should avoid conflicts with the process of adhesion of Ukraine to the European Union, a striking point given Washington’s growing antagonism towards Brussels. However, Zelensky wants to avoid that the agreement interferes with its ambitions in European integration. Everything remains to be seen at today’s meeting. Image … Read more

A startup claims to have the weapon to end China’s monopoly on rare earths: hard drives

by

In the technological era and Energy transition to renewables and the electric car In which we are, the Rare earth They have become the most valuable currency. This set of elements has become essential for many industries, but there is a problem: China dominates both mining and, above all, Rare Earth Metals Productionand he does not hesitate to use them as a throwing weapon in the Technological and Commercial War in which we are. While west Decide which are the next steps In the search for the gold of the 21st century, there are already those who work to obtain rare earth elements from wherever it is thanks to recycling. And that hard drive that has been in the drawer for years is a treasure. ‘Chrysistunity’. “Rare earth” is the name with which we call a group of 17 minerals that are used to manufacture components of electric car batteries, precision medical instruments, speakers or elements of wind turbines, among many other applications in virtually all sectors. Taking them out of the earth is not as much problem as their refining, since it is a process that does not get along with Western pollution restrictions. That is why we were delegating this task to China and, now, the Asian giant dominates practically 90% of production. So important are that the country usually uses the export of rare earth metals when it receives a new western commercial blow and even in the Ukraine War we have seen Trump condition US support to the supply of rare earth. But before each crisis, there is an opportunity. Old hard drives. In the absence of being able to produce them, why not get those elements through recycling? With the plastic we do not do it very well, but with other elements, and in the case of rare earths, it is something that can work. That is precisely what the company has proposed Hypromaga startup founded by personnel from the Metallurgy and Materials School of the University of Birmingham that, as we read in Financial Timeshas focused on the recycling of hard drives. These components once dominated our PCs and, although they remain of great value as external discs and, above all, as components for NAS systems, they have gradually been separated by much faster SSDs and that have been lowering price. And these hard drives have some components that are manufactured thanks to rare earth elements, such as magnets that allow their operation. Recycling. Gavin MUDD is the director of the Critical Mineral Intelligence Center of the United Kingdom and comments that the country imports between 5,000 and 10,000 tons of rare earth magnets every year in the form of finished products and components, but only 1% of that figure Recycle. He affirms that it is not an isolated case and that it is an amount similar to that of other industrialized nations. “We need to consider future domestic production, and that leads us to consider recycling,” he says. And that is where Hypromag technology comes into play. They claim that their technique allows them to extract the magnets that contain rare earths, which weigh between 10% and 15% of the hard disk itself, and obtain the elements sought. To do this, they have a great drum that they fill with even a ton of waste at the same time and, after closing the hermetic doors, introduce pure hydrogen inside. Then, hydrogen unstals enter the fissures of the magnets, causing them to break and separate them from the surrounding material. After this process, which lasts between four and eight hours, a powder composed mainly of the ingredients of the magnet – the neodymium – falls to the bottom of the container, while other elements such as steel, nickel and aluminum are separated and also can also be recycle. Subsequently, they grind the sifted material and an alloy occurs that can become a magnet again. Different approaches. There is another company that is in garlic and that has also spoken with Financial Times with a tone of competition that, in the end, is the one that can advance the industry of rare earth recycling. This company is called Material Cyclic And he affirms that his method is better than that of “magnet to magnet” because he allowed to crumble each component of the elements instead of separating magnets, on the one hand, iron and steel on the other. Ahmad Ghahreman is the executive director of this company and affirms that its approach allows companies to use the rare lands as they want, not only as magnets. And he compared the two approaches with the recycling metaphor of a pizza: “When recycles pizza with our technology, raisins from flour pizza, salt, pepper and all other ingredients. With the other, pass from pizza to the dough. ” An ambitious patch. Despite competitiveness in his words, Ghahreman considers that both methods are valid and “profitable.” In 2024 they produced 100 tons of rare earth oxides, but they hope to reach 600 tons for the end of this year. In addition, they have plans to open another plant in the United States with a capacity of 1,200 tons per year and have plans to open facilities in Canada and Europe in 2028. Hypromag, on the other hand, hopes to produce between 25 and 30 tons per year in its first phase, but with extension plans to 350 tons thanks to a new plant in Germany and another 1,000 tons of annual alloys with a projected plant in Texas. They are less concrete plans, but the objective of both companies is the same. Clue. Allan Walton, the founder of Hypromag, comments that this technology “is a way of extracting large amounts of rare earths and creating a domestic supply,” and the truth is that the recycling of rare earths is something that has been speaking for years, but It was always a challenge. And it is something that is being sought in various parts of the world. For example, … Read more

Trump has determined to obtain a piece of the rare earths of Ukraine. The only problem is that they may not exist

by

Trump has begun this new legislature under an idea of ​​appropriating everything that can get an economic revenue and is not under his jurisdiction. It started with Greenland And now he wants to do it with Ukraine, but as happened with the first, in the Eastern country he will not find anything he thinks. Short. Donald Trump has declared that Ukraine has vast reserves of rare earths, but is far from reality. In fact, This statement is disassembled with the American geological service that does not include the East country as a significant deposit holder of these minerals. But why this obsession? As soon as he assumes the position as president, Trump He established that he wanted to “buy” Greenland as a strategic zone within the geopolitical framework and for its mineral wealth, which according to energy experts Javier Blas and Richard Milne It was not as the current president of the United States states, despite being an area with a large extension capacity. However, all this obsession behind rare earths is to ensure access to strategic resources that, for the most part, They are dominated by China. Control of these resources It is crucial For advanced technological applications and weapons production. Ensuring rare earth supply could have significant geopolitical implications, and in a context of rivalry with China, it could be part of its strategy to diversify the sources of these elements. And why now Ukraine? The analyst Javier Blas details it well for Bloombergsince the issue began when the Ukrainians presented to Trump a “Victoria Plan” highlighting the country’s mineral potential. This led Trump to speak publicly about the rare earths of Ukraine on several occasions, even mentioning a surprisingly high amount in dollars that the US could obtain from these resources, without basis on geological reality. The energy expert considers that the confusion probably arises from a misunderstanding or error of Trump by linking Ukraine with rare earths, when in reality the country does not have large deposits of these minerals. It could also have been confused with other mineral resources that Ukraine does, such as titanium and Gallium, which are valuable but not of the same strategic magnitude as rare earths. The misinformation is everywhere. However, it should be noted that this confusion by President Trump has also been fed by erroneous reports or conspiracy theories that circulate in the political sphere, which mention minerals such as lithium, beryllium or even uranium, which sometimes They are wrongly included in “rare earth” lists. In fact, this report It was published in December last year by the NATO Energy Security Excellence Center, a Autonomous organism Affiliated with the Military Alliance and that uses its name and logo. However, as Blas details, if these are the source used by Trump’s advisors, it is an important problem for global policy. The strategic point. Although Ukraine does not have vast mineral reserves, the country is in a very important geopolitical location, since it is a country of containment against Russia. For years, Ukrainian gas pipelines They have been essential For Russian gas supply to Europe, becoming a constant source of tension. The European Russian Gas Dependency has generated energy crisis and geopolitical disputeswhich further reinforces the relevance of Ukraine on the international board. In this context, the obsession with its mineral resources is not only an economic issue, but also an attempt to reinforce the geopolitical and energy security of the western bloc. Under threat. Before all this situation, in recent statements, Trump has attacked Zelensky calling it “dictator” And warning that, if he doesn’t act quickly, Ukraine could disappear. In addition, he has criticized the lack of previous agreements to avoid war and the high cost of the conflict for the United States. Within these recent statements, he also suggested that Europe should assume a majority of military spending, since it considers that war affects Europe more than the United States. Image | The White House and Unspash Xataka | Trump wants to apply tariffs of more than 25% to chips and that means one thing: much more expensive laptops

The rare earth war has arrived in Spain. And it is in Ciudad Real where mining and ecology are confronted

by

If there is an resource that dominates the geopolitical panorama of today, that is that of the Rare earth. Are essential for many technological fields among which are electric vehiclessystem elements renewable energies and the technological world in general, and China dominates both its mining and its production. The rest of the world seeks a new ‘El Dorado’ of Rare Earth to be able to exploit, and it turns out that In Spain there is a very sweet site. It is in Ciudad Real, but it will not be so easy to extract its resources. I have land (rare). In Spain it is estimated that there are several rare earth deposits. Mount Galiñeiro in Galicia is one of them, In Gran Canaria It is also estimated that there are large quantities, in Cádiz and Almería there are also deposits and more of the same Between Salamanca and Zamora. Another important site is in the field of Montiel, in Ciudad Real, and something that practically everyone has in common is that their extraction seems complicated. Not so much because of the technical issue (extracting rare earths is not a problem, neither does its production), but by the environmental counterpart. It is a potentially polluting activity that is very regular in Europe (that is why China was doing with all the control) and that meets an added inconvenience: Spanish deposits are usually close to environmental areas of interest. Matamulas. Although in recent years it has been evidenced that rare earths are a Throwing weapon on the world geopolitical stageit really has been looking for the independence of China for years. In 2015, the Spanish company Quantum Mining It started to study the land in the Manchega region of Campo de Montiel, where municipalities such as Valdepeñas or Torrenueva are located. In general, the area of ​​mules, matamulas and auctione. It is Torrenueva the town that is right next to the great mining site that sought to exploit Quantum Mining And that, according to his studies, he is up to Monacita. Under this term we have elements and minerals such as Cerio, Neodimio, Torio or Lantano and is not very common in Europe. To the load. In a recent one video (Although, as we say, this comes from long), Quantum Mineria affirms that the production of Montiel’s Camp Build 350,000 electric cars or 10,000 wind generators. There is a problem: those rare earths are under large extensions of cultivation, mainly cereal. The company’s plan is to temporarily remove the half -meter vegetation layer that, they affirm, will carefully retain, once the mining process is over, restore it and leave it as it was. The backhoes remove the layer of land containing the monacite and all this takes to a plant in which the interesting thing is signed of what does not. This is done without using polluting chemicals and, once the monacite is on the one hand and the earth without interest on another, return it to the ground and place the previously removed crop. The machinery works by sectors of one hectare, without interrupting adjacent agriculture and claim that, once the land is restored, it can be re -cultivated “in better conditions than the originals.” Criticism. They complement their allegation by stating that they would create industry, help repopulate the area, attract jobs and encourage conditions for traditional agricultural and livestock activities. It is not something that has convinced neighbors or environmental organizations. In 2016, Ecologists in Action alleged that the environmental impact on the 27,500 hectares in which it was projected to work would be severe. Worry. Among other issues, water worried. From the organization, they affirmed that between 310,000 and 500,000 cubic meters of water a year, which would have to multiply for ten years of mining activity to cover all the estimated hectares. It was not logical in a region in which the problems of water supply in droughts are not rare, with overexploited aquifers and an intense agricultural activity of the economy in the area. Brake. To this we must add that in the area there are two Zepas (Areas of special protection for birds) and is a place of presence of the lynx. With all this in mind, and after two years of social struggle, the CLM government gave folder to the matter in 2017. Load return. In recent years, in different forums it has been followed defending The suitability of the area as a strategic enclave so that Spain – and Europe – stop depending both on the importation of strange earth elements of China, arguing that it is key to decarbonization and energy transition, but also defending the environmental respect of the activity. It was at the beginning of 2024 when Quantum Mining He returned To request permits to carry out a research project to quantify the amount of rare earths in the Montiel field, referring to the “high risk of supply interruptions” due to China’s strategic movements of the previous months. Quantum affirms that his process is respectful of existing crops Abandoned mines. Given this new attempt, environmentalist in action reacted again, but also proposed a solution. Joan Evans, responsible for mining in the organization, pointed out that the abandoned mines that are already in Spain could be exploited again, in whose dump there are “very important quantities” of rare earths. Before the resurgence of Quantum, both neighbors and the Diputación de Ciudad Real and the Platform ‘Yes to living earth‘They returned to oppose to the granting of permits. Given this new rejection, Javier Merino, president of Quantum Mining, affirmed that its activity would be “totally compatible with the traditional activities of the area” and that the rejection climate is due to the propagation of “false news with photographs of mining farms that have nothing to do with our project.” “The most ecological in the world”. As a support for the activities of Quantum, the Secretary General of Primigea -the Spanish Confederation of the Mineral Raw Materials Industries – affirmed Recently that “a … Read more

The treasure desired by all nations that China dominates with iron fist can be key in Ukraine: its rare earths

by

Trump has had to get there An unexpected negotiating element In the war in Ukraine. Moscow and Kyiv have been waiting for the new administration with respect to the conflict for weeks. The answer, unexpected for the majority, is about to see if it is as it seems. If affirmative, the United States would enter fully into the contest to help Ukraine, although in exchange for very precious minerals with incalculable geopolitical value. Rare lands in exchange for support. Donald Trump’s recent statement on a possible agreement with Ukraine, in which The United States would receive rare minerals in exchange for military assistancehas shaken the geopolitical panorama and generated international mixed reactions. The proposal, presented by Trump himself in the Oval office, seeks to condition Kyiv aid, linking it with strategic resources such as lithium, uranium and titanium, fundamental to the technological and military industry. This strategy, which reflects its transactional approach in foreign policy, represents a significant change regarding the unconditional military assistance that the American nation has provided so far, where it was practically reduced to money and weapons. A turn in the relationship. Since Trump’s re -election, uncertainty about American commitment to Ukraine has been a matter of concern for Kyiv. Everything changes, a priori (and being real), with this offer, since Ukraine could ensure Washington’s support when a “strategic interest” In his future. In fact, the answer has not been expected, and Ukrainian officials have explained that The administration of Volodymyr Zelensky would be willing to sign joint agreements with the United States To guarantee the collaboration in the exploitation of these resources, in an attempt to consolidate military support in the middle of the wear of the conflict with Russia. Moreover, Zelensky has warned that Without American intervention, these resources could end up in the hands of adversaries As Iran or North Korea, in case of a Russian victory. Geopolitical impact As we said, the international reaction to Trump’s words has not been waiting. In Europe, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz harshly criticized the proposaldescribing it as selfish and stressing that minerals should be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine instead of being exchanged for weapons. A European diplomat expressed doubts about the viability of the plansuggesting that it is not yet clear if it is a negotiation strategy or a firm demand. In addition, he stressed that European countries have already considered more transactional approaches with the United States, although without compromising essential resources of Ukraine. And from Russia? From Moscow, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov interpreted Trump’s proposal as a sign that the United States will no longer deliver free helpwhat Russia sees as an opportunity to weaken Western support to Kyiv. This perspective coincides with Russian military advances in eastern Ukraine, where many of the rare mineral reserves are found. The minerals. It We have counted before. In the case at hand, the elements of rare earths that Donald Trump seeks to ensure through an agreement with Ukraine in exchange for military aid They are essential strategic metals for key industriesfrom advanced technology to defense. Despite its name, these 17 elements are not particularly scarce, since There are large deposits in China, Brazil, Vietnam and Russia. However, its extraction implies highly polluting and expensive processes, which has limited its production outside of Chinawho dominates the global market thanks to massive investments in refinement and more lax environmental regulation. The importance of rare earths. These metals They are practically irreplaceable in many industrial applications. Neodimium and Disposio, for example, allow to manufacture ultra -policy magnets essential for wind turbines and electric motors, while the Europium is crucial for television screens and the hill is used in oil refining. Besides, They play a key role in the development of modern armamentincluding in the equation guided missiles. Since production is concentrated in China (and therefore, The dependence of most countries), we have the best of the clues for which United States and EU seek to reduce its dependencepromoting new sources of supply and recycling of materials. Trump’s interest. Linking with the above, Trump possibly sees in Ukrainian deposits An opportunity to strengthen US supply and reduce that Chinese influence In the sector, more convulsed than ever with The war of tariffs imposed. In this sense, one of the greatest attractions of the agreement for Washington is Access to lithium deposits of Ukraine, essential for the manufacture of microchips and batteries for electric vehiclesstrategic sectors where the United States competes directly with China. Within the framework of its transactional policy, the tycoon proposes that Ukraine guarantees access to these resources in exchange for military support, An idea previously suggested by Volodymyr Zelensky. The geopolitics of these materials, therefore, is key, since a greater dependence on China could represent strategic risks, as happened in 2010 when Beijing blocked exports to Japan in a territorial conflict. Difference with other critical minerals. Rare earths are just a part of The so -called critical mineralsa broader category that includes tungsten, tellurium and Indian, essential for clean energy and advanced technologies. In fact, China has already imposed export controls of some of these materials In response to American tariffs, reinforcing the need to diversify the global supply. Paradigm change. Be that as it may, Trump’s interest in convert military assistance into an agreement based on resources It represents a fundamental change in the way in which the United States could handle its relationship with Ukraine (or other nations in conflict). While Kyiv sees this as an opportunity to maintain American support, the proposal It has also generated tensions with Europe and criticism about ethics to condition aid to an exchange of strategic goods. On the other hand, and at least publicly, Russia does not see it either bad, but as a chance. In a context of prolonged war and with Moscow gaining ground, this new approach could define the future of the conflict and remodel geopolitical balance in the coming years. Of course, it is about to see if Trumop’s … Read more

In addition to Gold and Rare Earth China has an ace in the sleeve to lift its economy: old orange peels

by

We knew that the Chinese nation was not going wrong with The “Gold Fever” of the 21st centurysomething similar in terms of mining fever unleashed in California in the mid -nineteenth century, but without the dazzling element so precious and marked by rare earths. However, if what is about “pure gold”, they were not badly assorted after finding One of the biggest giant gold deposits. In fact, China has “Gold” even in trees. Xinhui’s gold. This enclave, a seemingly ordinary district in the city of Jiangmen, province of Guangdong, has turned this part in the epicenter of a lucrative industry based on something that a priori should not have great value: The aging tangerine peels, known there as Chenpiand whose production and commerce have transformed the local economy. In the background: some peels valued by their medicinal and culinary properties, an element that can reach astronomical prices, coming to be sold for $ 9,650 around 500 gramswhich reflects its status as a precious asset both in traditional Chinese medicine and in luxury gastronomy for elites. Historical origins and benefits. CNN counted last week in a large report that the use of Chenpi in traditional Chinese medicine dates back to the Song dynasty (1127-1279)with records that highlight its properties to strengthen the spleen, improve digestion and benefit the respiratory system. In that sense, the shells, scientifically called citri reticulatae pericarpium, contain antioxidants and flavonoids With potential for stabilize blood pressure and prevent obesity. And from all places, the Xinhui region, located at the confluence of the Xijiang and Tanjiang rivers, offers unique soil and water conditions that enrich the peaks with a higher micronutrient content than those grown in other areas. That said, to be considered Authentic Chenpithe shells must undergo an annual drying process for the sun for at least three years, being carefully stored for the rest of the time. Typology. Exist even Four main types of Chenpi According to the time of the harvest: those of green peels, collected before maturation, those of second red tangerine peels, collected in November, the large red peels, completely mature in December, and finally those of red shells, harvested after This station, and with a higher sugar content. Industry boom and economic impact. In recent decades, the Chenpi industry has promoted unprecedented economic growth in the Xinhui region. The production of these peculiar shells has turned the region into an economic power, contributing approximately 23,000 million yuan (3.2 billion dollars) in 2023, and Representing a quarter of Jiangmen’s GDP. In this regard, local businessmen like Zhou Zhiweiwho left Hong Kong in the 1990s to return to Xinhui, have played a crucial role in the consolidation of the industry. Zhou, now vice president of the Chenpi Industry Association of Xinhui, says it manages annually around 163 tons of shells, contributing to the Xinhui positioning as the main world producer. Chenpi Chenpi revaluation for elites. In the end, such an exquisite product has ended where other similar ones: in high gastronomy. Here names such as the renowned chef chi wai chef, The Legacy House restaurant In Hong Kong, who has been promoting the incorporation of Chenpi in haute cuisine, exploring its potential beyond traditional medicine. Inspired by his childhood in Xinhui, LI has introduced exclusive menus that highlight the diversity of flavors of the Cenpi according to their age, harvest and origin, emulating the appreciation for the Terroir In the wine industry. Exclusive dishes with the “gold” peel. In fact, in The last gastronomic menu that the chef is offering Com diners can enjoy dishes such as the swim bladder soup with heads with a lamb, made with Chenpi over 50 years, highlighting “its deep flavor and amaderated notes.” Also the mere stew steak with six -year shell “with sweet nuances” thanks to the postin -winter harvest, or the lobster rolls with bamboo straw, accompanied by 13 -year -old shells, which says they contribute a slight flavor to oyster due to its origin in the riverside region of Meijiang. In addition, Li says that It seeks to transform the perception of Chenpishowing that its initial, well -balanced bitterness becomes a sweet and sophisticated taste, symbolizing the relationship between bitterness and sweetness in life, according to the old Chinese proverb. Innovation and future of Chenpi. Chenpi production has evolved over time, with advances in harvesting and storage techniques. Currently, producers use both the shells and the mandarin pulp (previously discarded) to manufacture health and enzyme products. In Xinhui, Initiatives such as Chenpi Villagea cultural and tourist center dedicated to the mandarin peel, reflect those efforts to diversify the industry. In this complex, products such as ice cream, coffee with Chenpi dust and culinary memories are offered, attracting tourists and consolidating that cultural identity of the region. As producer Zhou explained to the CNN When observing the boom of the market, Xinhui has managed to focus and give importance to advanced manufacturing and diversification of Chenpi products, ensuring the sustainability of the long -term sector. A region that has achieved something fascinating: to raise an ingredient as humble as a simple tangerine peel aged in “gold” at all levels, both economic and cultural for the region. Image | Zhionghwaong Sham, Simon Law In Xataka | China has given one of the largest treasures ever found: giant gold worth 83,000 million dollars In Xataka | China still has no avant -garde lithographs. Even so, it is making gold with mature nodes

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.