It is many years since I read about their process, but check and...

It is many years since I read about their process, but check and see what neodymium chemical they produced to start with but I don't think the announcement means they can make the metal from the oxide directly but that they make the metal from what was in their ore. It is not easy to get from oxide to metal, how many rust collections have you done?

Back when I started looking at ALK it was not just the ore to mine but their scientific and engineering process development. This seems to be the latest step in that. As for the metal prices, that is a job for Google. I did a quick look before I posted the first time but did not bother to check all the units and things. neodymium is a very unique metal though I think the highest permanent magnetic strength.