One emerging rare earths producer, Northern Minerals (ASX: NTU), remains well on track despite the ups-and-downs of the sector

One emerging rare earths producer, Northern Minerals (ASX: NTU), remains well on track despite the ups-and-downs of the sector. The company is our sole and preferred rare earths exposure and it has maintained methodical and focused exploration and appraisal activity on its Browns Range rare earths project in WA to the tune of $26 million over the past four years. All this at a time when most other companies have simply stood still, paralysed by inactivity. The Browns Range project remains immensely attractive and the company has just released a positive Pre-feasibility Study that reinforces the project's robust economics, with first production targeted for 2016.