I will read that link when I have time. Thanks for providing it.
The thing about supply is its pretty much a single source, all of the others are trying to expand their production while CBMM already has.
Niobium use is small but growing. If CBMM has enough for 100 years and can get it out and process it fast enough if growth double and they need to double production you are down to 50 years double again 25 years etc. As that mine life shortens would you as an owner and end user try and keep supply for ones future or would you limit the supply to insider end users?
With the potential growth in steel use as well as the ever growing electronic uses demand is growing and will continue it seems.
These processing technologies come from research and that typically comes from Universities so that access to technology isn't likely to be difficult to obtain.
I am doubtful that SRSR will be waiting several hundred years to sell their niobium or all the present suppliers wouldn't be trying to expand presently nor would there be so many exploration properties around the globe looking to become a mine.
As far as getting it to purity the testing facility the SOE is using already knows how to do the processing and since that is their business will be happy to work with anyone who wants to pay for their services.
I would assume that the 3 companies all have their own way of doing things. I would also assume that none of them will be willing to give Scott a walk through.
I am also aware of the wikipedia "DD" done here and that almost all metals can be acid leeched from ore and processed but most countries frown on dumping chemicals in rivers. That is why they developed other methods. So the "feasibility" from 60 years ago was in a world without an environmental protection agency in almost every country.
Luckily Scott doesn't have to know how to get the niobium out of the rocks.
Robert Yeates has been on board for quite some time now. I would like to think that he has been addressing this issue and would not expect the information he has come up with to be made public. Just as the other companies are not giving walk throughs as you mentioned.