Foreign media said the latest news showed that the United States is closely seeking rare earth supply opportunities in Africa.The defense department has discussed rare earth supplies with mkango resources, a malawian exploration and 

development company, and other rare earth miners around the world, seeking to diversify supplies away from China's reliance on rare earths, a pentagon official said Sunday. 

The us moved forward after China hinted at restrictions on rare earth exports, the report said. According to the U.S. geological survey, 80 percent of U.S. rare earth imports come from China, and nearly all of its rare earth processing facilities 

are in China."We are looking for sources of supply outside of China. We want diversity, we don't want a single source of producers." Jason nie, a materials engineer with the defense department's logistics service, speaking on the sidelines of an 

event in Chicago.

The engineer said the logistics agency was also in discussions with rainbow rare earths, a burundian company, about future supplies and proposed bringing in several potential donors for a U.S. rare earth project under development. As part of 

its due diligence, the defense department's logistics agency regularly talks with potential suppliers and may or may not result in a purchase agreement, Reuters said. But such feelers suggest the U.S. is more concerned about diversifying its 

supply of these key minerals.

In addition, rare earths are widely used in military equipment and control almost all important processing lines, including U.S. aircraft and night-vision goggles, according to Taiwan's victor.The United States itself is seeking rare earth 

development in its own country, the report said. Texas mineral resources is developing rare earths in an area on the western edge of Texas. The development is expected to cost more than $300 million.But it believes that both the us domestic 

rare earth projects and the African rare earth companies approached recently will take at least a few years to develop and mass produce. (from the mining 120)