Hoidas Lake

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Hoidas Lake is a remote northern Canadian lake which lies approximately 50 kilometers north of Uranium City, Saskatchewan. Named in honor of Irvin Frank Hoidas, a Canadian soldier killed in action during the Second World War,[1] it is the site of Canada's most advanced rare earth element (REE) mining project.[2]

Contents

[edit] Setting

Hoidas Lake lies in the Northern Rae Geological Province, in the general vicinity of many of Saskatchewan's large uranium mines[2].

[edit] Mineralogy

The mineralogy of the Hoidas Lake rare earth deposit differs from most other such deposits in that it is hosted in veins of apatite and allanite.[3] The deposit also contains a number of heavy REEs, such as dysprosium[2]. This is important, as dysprosium is used in the manufacture of hybrid car components[4] and there is an impeding shortage of the metal.[5]

[edit] Ownership

The Hoidas Lake claims are owned by Great Western Minerals Group, based in Saskatoon.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Irvin Frank Hoidas
  2. ^ a b c d Hoidas Lake, Saskatchewan
  3. ^ Salvi S, Williams‐Jones A. 2004. Alkaline granite‐syenite deposits. In Linnen RL, Samson IM, editors. Rare element geochemistry and mineral deposits. St. Catharines (ON): Geological Association of Canada. pp. 315‐341
  4. ^ G, Nishiyama. "Japan urges China to ease rare metals supply." 8 November 2007. Reuters Latest News. 10 March 2008 <http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL08815827>
  5. ^ Cox C. 2008. Rare earth innovation. [Internet]. Herndon (VA): The Anchor House Inc; [updated 2008 Feb 16; cited 2008 Mar 18]. Available from http://theanchorhouse.com

[edit] External Links

United States Geologic Survey report on Rare Earths http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs087-02/fs087-02.pdf

Great Western Minerals Group http://www.gwmg.ca