Who cares if either a) we sell iron pellets after separating out PMs or b) we find value in Fe for an industry, electric cars, that didn't exist ten years ago, or a battery type, iron phosphate (LFP), that is just now coming into favor (Tesla just announced their intention to use LFP in mass produced Model 2s last week. The entire industry will follow). This in order to build cheap $25,000 electric cars (can't build cars cheap if you use current nickel-cobalt-aluminum. And they are more prone to fire).
Ford, GM, others will want this material. Lots of potential future sales.
The industry grew into the asset, not the other way around. So if they could get $1 a share for this thing, better than nothing. In the end we may sell as a high end iron mine not a PM mine. Most long timers (those still alive) won't complain. Got PMs? All the better.
Bottom line - we have a valuable asset. More valuable than it was when they started this company. We have high quality Fe and automakers will look for a supply (vertical integration) and competitive (better range and battery life) advantage. Time to make management aware if they aren't already.