Replies to post #79678 on Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[chico237]

PM/all- Why? "Would NioCorp not act on building an REE’s resource until recently"? Has been addressed several times on this board & by several posters.

IMHO:
Pricing/Competition/NEED/

a) Pricing of Neodymium, Pr, Tr & Dy
https://en.institut-seltene-erden.de/rare-earths-and-metals/rare-earth/neodymium/
PM- Just plug in any of the Rare Earth Minerals. Since 2013 till present day the PRICING $$ of just these four minerals has achieved speaks for itself!
(Niocorp being an underground mine could not achieve economic goals on REE's in the earlier years based on low pricing & the threat of China doing what it did to MP.)

b) Competition: China is currently "THE" World leader on producing & Separation of REE's via non ESG principles. China CAN play pricing games. (~Just look at what they did in 2011/2 & have threatened to do again.~) Niocorp being able to produce viable REE's as a "BYPRODUCT" of Niobium, Titanium & Scandium production is not only a smart move, but should insulate Niocorp against any future pricing wars.

c)NEED: The WORLD is finally recognizing what we all saw back in 2012. Covid 19- has ruined current supply chains & has shed a light on how VUNERABLE they are. As the world seeks to address New Geopolitical lines, Cleaner Energy production, Electric Vehicles, light weighting, 3D printing & more. Critical Minerals & REE's ~Secure, Stable, ESG, DIVERSE SUPPLY is required~ Not only for Industry but for Strategic Defense & Space purposes.
Several "NEW" mines will be needed (Several articles & Industry leaders have stated as much.)
It remains to be seen IF Private Industry & Governments can come together & support such actions. Recent events do tend to show that Private Industry & Governments are starting to take action. (See Several posts on this board & the recent actions of the U.S., Canada, Australia etc..)
~NOTE: Niocorps economics "IF" proven should improve even more. Possibly improving Debt/Equity negotiations & the amount of CAPEX/OPEX moving forward in addition to a more robust NPV.~

IF Niocorp can Prove SEPARATION of their viable REE's & it is economically viable; & IF Niocorp can achieve some meaningful finance. IMHO Niocorp is one of the most advanced NEW MINE Projects in the U.S.

Form your own opinions & conclusions
Knowing all the labs have been backed up! I am eager to see Niocorp's REE Market Compliant Mineral Resource report & CURVE announced. Allowing NIOCORP to officially tout its REE's produced as a BYPRODUCT in addition to Niobium, Scandium & Titanium! (Not too shabby...)
While giving them a bit more time to prove Separation at the Pilot Plant scale & adjust the economics into a 2022 F.S. (Thus updating the 2019 to include REE's!!)
Grunt's numbers look great to me add in a higher recovery rate for Titanium & Niobium plus an upgrade to the Titanium oxide & future Niobium oxide production...Taking all the above into account & with a grain of SALT! Yeah!~" I'm in my front row seat waiting a bit longer with many here."

Chico

[grunt23]

I will try one last time:

Putz, we have discussed this situation for a long time. I will try one last time:

I will add a little more to what Chico had to say. Maybe we can achieve a little bit.

The company did not include the rare earth oxides in the first FS in 2017, or the 2019 because it was not worth the cost. Period.

The price of Terbium oxide in 2016 was $405.00, the year before the FS. In 2018 it was $454.00 and in 2019 it was $504.00. Today, 4/27/2022 the quoted price is $2,195.00.

I have posted several messages regarding the estimated extra profit we could achieve from the 3 REE oxides the company should produce. In the case of Terbium, I have estimated a conservative cost around $548.00 per KG to extract Terbium from the already existing solutions provided from the extraction process of the 3 existing products.

Why would a for profit enterprise would spend $548.00 to obtain $405.00, or $504.00 for that matter. Pure nonsense. That is why the company decided NOT to spend the funds to include the 3 oxides in the 2017 or 2019 FS.

Yes, I know, Monday morning quarterbacks are 100% correct.

We need to stop this crapola. Move forward. Let's see the positive in our company.

I hope we can get the results of the ongoing studies shortly.

Chico, Thanks again for your research.

Have a great day.