You've often accused me of static thinking yet never suggested what was static about it. It's one of your go-to criticisms to support your dismissiveness. I hope you don't mind if I just ignore it. I eschew ad hominem arguments, for the most part, in favor of reason.
That said, this might be as good a time to respond as any.
For all you alert readers, ausheds has just presented us with a perfect example of "static thinking". Which by the way means you think nothing is ever going to change. In this instance, the grade of a resource which can be economically brought to market. Yet we all know grades are dropping and yet mining continues. [We better hope so, because Lynas's grade is only going to drop going forward.]
BEVs are bad; 48VMHs are the only way. Windmills will be defeated. Grid support batteries and virtual power plants are stupid. Dysprosium is for dummies. Only the Central Lanthanide Deposit is viable. Not one of these static positions, and ausheds has many many more, is forward-looking or accurate, but that won't stop him.
His followers exhibit the same dismissive attitudes and static positions - no surprise, he's coached them for years. Several have already echoed his comments on this subject.
In reality, this latest report is not a rehash at all. It significantly advances the information presented in 2012(?). At that time they had a bit of trenching, a few promising holes. Now they have many holes and a much more detailed analyses. Back then you had to use you imagination (if you have one), now they have presented the beginnings of HOW it might be accomplished economically: by situ cyclone enrichment.
This project may not be come to fruition for 30 years or more. It doesn't matter. What matters is they have found a resource that gains them independence from China and Greenland. They found hope.
Is it economical today? No, of course not, no one's saying it is. However, it's nonsensical to conclude: "Thus it will never be viable." Reject sclerotic thinking.
Any resource that presents ROW with the possibility of being independent of China is worth investigation and research. The US is not "frantically pouring money" into these endeavors; that's just bullshit. Japan, on the other hand, certainly was frantic after 2011, pouring money into many now-defunct operations. One survived. And it could even be said that they were "frantically pouring money" into Lynas until just a couple of years ago. How did that work out?
You have to be able to think dynamically. Dump static sclerotic thinking.
Bottom line: The REEs in deep sea mud are probably ~20% NdPr. They will push forward with this project. Could come to fruition in 20 years.
I salute the imagination.
I salute the effort.
I salute Japan.
