A interesting point was made in this article:
"Knowing this the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans each paid $2 billion to secure supply from Brazil's CBMM, the largest global producer of niobium. This shocked the West as they were shut out from the deal. CBMM produces around 85% of the global niobium supply."
I have read that the Elk Creek niobium mine would cost just $400 million to start....considering that the Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans paid billion$ for a small percentage ownership in the CBMM mine....a $400 million investment in a quality niobium mine with an excellent infrastructure is indeed a bargain just waiting to be snatched up!