1. American Vanadium (AVC: TSXV) (Chris Berry)

As the ice starts to thaw here in the Northern Hemisphere, it means one of two things: the Yankees are headed to Spring Training or the season of mining exploration is upon us. If you’re a baseball fan both are true. It seems as though every day another company issues a press release laying out their plans to advance their various mining projects. Today, we’ll update you on two specific projects we’ve discussed in past MNs – one, a vanadium project in Nevada, and the other, an iron ore project in Western Australia. Early next week we’ll return with updates on two notable gold discovery projects.

Written by Michael A. Berry, Ph.D. - [ Discovery Investing Web Site ]

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The Master Speaks The Truth

On The Threshold of a Dream
When the white eagle of the North
Is flying overhead
And the browns, reds and golds of autumn
Lie in the gutter, dead
Remember then, the summer birds
With wings of fire flaying
Come to witness Spring's new hope
Born of leaves decaying

Written by Michael A. Berry, Ph.D. - [ Discovery Investing Web Site ]

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 Policy Blunders by Washington Cognoscenti

Yesterday I received an email from one of the most prominent and successful geologists in the US. He has just returned from Mexico where he and his partner had made several world class mineral discoveries over the years. His initial survey of the conditions for exploration and development of US resources follows. It is this sort of myopia by Washington that has placed the United States in a precarious position relative to its access to industrial and strategic materials. I also include a quote from the current USGS web site in which they note that,

“In 2009, the supply for more than one-half of U.S. apparent consumption of 38 mineral commodities came from imports, and the United States was 100% import reliant for 19 of those. U.S. import dependence has grown significantly during the past 30 years. In 1978, the United States was 100% import dependent for 7 mineral commodities, and more than 50% import dependent for 25 mineral commodities.”

Written by Michael A. Berry, Ph.D. - [ Discovery Investing Web Site ]

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Graphite: Not Only Pencils

Gary Economo’s presentation on his Shock and Awe graphite and rare earth deposits in Quebec was so good on Friday that the shares traded up 25% by the end of the day on huge volume. Just a note for presenters, say what you have to say in 15 minutes and then answer our audience questions for 20. Gary did this with ease. You can watch his presentation on the webcast that has been archived at:

Written by Michael A. Berry, Ph.D. - [ Discovery Investing Web Site ]

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Can Critical Metals Save the North American Auto Industry?

The NRC produced an in-depth report on minerals critical to the U.S. economy:

“... most critical minerals are both essential in use (difficult to substitute for) and prone to supply restrictions.”

The NRC report is based on 6 availability criteria used to rank minerals for criticality (geological, technical, environmental and social, political, and economic).

Written by Michael A. Berry, Ph.D. - [ Discovery Investing Web Site ]

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