I highlighted several weeks ago the rising concern by the US public about our mineral dependance on foreign entities. Important national news has just crossed our wires this morning as two of our featured Alaskan junior miners were mentioned in testimony on May 12th in front of the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as being two critical domestic mining projects for our most strategic metals and minerals.

For weeks I have highlighted Graphite One (GPH.V or GPHOF) and Ucore Rare Metals (UCU.V or UURAF) as strategic mineral projects for the future of US mineral independence.  The US is totally dependent on Graphite and Heavy Rare Earths from overseas.  Graphite is important for the nascent Lithium-Ion Batteries and the heavy rare earths are important for smart bombs, clean energy and electronics. The  full testimony can be read at the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee site: http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=863857df-210f-4f99-821b-793db9ae0a4a.

Graphite One owns the largest natural flake graphite deposit in the United States and is working on publishing a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).  Ucore own the highest grade heavy rare earth deposit in the United States and is advancing towards publishing a Bankable Feasibility Study.

Ucore (UCU.V or UURAF) recently released news that they secured the rights to SuperLig® Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT) which is used to separate the rare earths.  Work is underway for a fully operation Pilot Plant which should be constructed in Houston, Texas.  Even more crucial is that if the Pilot Plant is successful a joint venture will be formed that could be used by other rare earth developers for processing using this technology.

See my recent interview with Ucore COO Ken Collison, an experience mine builder by clicking here…

Disclosure: I own Ucore and Graphite One.  Graphite One is a current sponsor and Ucore was a past sponsor.  Conflicts of interest apply so do your own due diligence.