In Chinese strategic plans: control of the supply of rare earth metals, we gave a short introduction to the rare earth metals. In response to that article, we received this email from a rare earth mining company:

Thought our story would be of interest to your readers:

Commerce Resources Corp. is developing a rare metal deposit, of tantalum and niobium, in central British Columbia.  While many have not heard of these metals, they are essential for the functioning of our modern economies.  Tantalum is critical for the production of microelectronic capacitors that are necessary for the production of cell phones, laptops, digital cameras, airbags, and other electronic devices. It is also used for specialty applications in the aerospace, medical, and nuclear power industries.  Niobium, on the other hand, is used as an alloy in steel and super alloys.  It is used, for example, in the manufacture of bridges, buildings, and oil and gas pipelines.

Demand for tantalum has been increasing since the 1990s as more microelectronic devices are adopted and global economies expand.  Tantalum supply on the other hand is under stress.  Within the past six months the three largest suppliers: Talison from Australia, Noventa from Mozambique, and the United States Defence Logistics Agency have either shut down or exhausted their supplies.  Over 50% of the worlds tantalum supply, and almost all of the stable ethical supply, has been removed.

Since most of the world?s supply has been shut out, the majority of tantalum is now coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo where it is mined as ?coltan? produced in unethical and inhumane ways and the profits of which fund the ongoing wars that have plagued the country for years.

Commerce?s Blue River project is in the development/pre-feasibility stage and we are working towards becoming a stable, ethical, and reliable source of tantalum supply for the world market.  Since its IPO in 2001, Commerce has been led by David Hodge, a veteran resource executive with over 20 years experience.  David, a dedicated and colourful character, is available for interviews for articles.  I have also included a link to our latest presentation.

Kind regards,

Ryan Fletcher
Corporate Development
Commerce Resources Corp.
Suite 1450 – 789 W Pender St.
Vancouver, BC V6C 1H2
http://www.commerceresources.com

Please note that this should not be seen as a recommendation for this mining stock. Instead, we see this as a good chance to learn more about rare earths.

We will be conducting an interview with David Hodge soon. If you have any questions that you would like to ask him, please submit them in the comments section below. We will collect them as part of the interview questions.