USA Rare Earth Produces Commercial-Grade Yttrium, Plans Major Expansion by 2030

According to Miningweekly, Idaho Strategic Resources (ISR), listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has discovered heavy rare earth ore containing yttrium at its Diamond Creek project in Idaho, US. The company's latest sampling in four different exploration areas along a 3.2-kilometer linear belt showed rare earth mineralization. From north to south, the four areas are Contact, "LuckyGem," Simer, and Frank Burch. The average total rare earth oxide (TREO) grade of these four areas is 1.8%, with enrichment in heavy rare earths, and the heavy rare earth oxide (HREO) grade generally exceeds 0.2%, including a yttrium oxide grade of 0.13%.

[SMM Rare Earth Daily Review: Rare Earth Prices Fall Under Pressure, Upstream-Downstream Stalemate] Overall, rare earth market prices are broadly in the doldrums, mainly due to the dual impact of reduced downstream inquiries and the decline in Pr-Nd oxide futures prices. Under such circumstances, suppliers showed little initiative in offering, the tug-of-war between upstream and downstream remained at a stalemate, and market trading was sluggish. In the short term, Pr-Nd product prices are expected to consolidate within a narrow range, weighed by the upstream-downstream stalemate.