Nebraska project finds key minerals, but can it mine them?

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Rod Eggert is featured in this article about how the challenges start with the massive amount of money needed to build a mine but also include fickle customers, the nation’s tougher environmental regulations, volatile markets and intense international competition. As a result, despite years of efforts, the mine in Nebraska might never be built. Even if NioCorp can come up with the money for its mine, its profitability could hinge on whether its minerals will be cheaper than foreign competitors’ supplies. Simply knowing the existence of a mineral deposit that’s attractive geologically does not guarantee commercial viability.  December 22, 2021.