Scarce earth ores are a group of 17 featuring scandium, yttrium, the 15 lanthanides ranging from lanthanum to lutetium, occurring together in many ore sources and critical for magnets, catalysts, as well as clean-energy tech. Cerium the most abundant REE in the crust, whereas promethium is not naturally occurring and is radioactive. Worldwide supply lines have long depended on a limited number of countries for mining and processing, prompting ongoing diversification efforts amid price volatility due to factors like mining, processing, and geopolitics. U.S.-based Molycorp started output at Mountain Pass and aims for full capacity in 2014, with a separation plant at Mountain to processing. Rare earths are found in catalysts and magnets across modern technology, driving clean-energy applications and advanced manufacturing. These worldwide importance has led to diversification and supply chain reforms to reduce price swings from mining, processing, and geopolitics. Overall, rare-earth elements continue to be vital for modern technology in green energy development.
Rare-earth element, any member of the group of chemical elements consisting of three elements in Group 3 (scandium [Sc], yttrium [Y], and lanthanum [La]) and the first extended row of elements below the main body of the periodic table (cerium [Ce] through lutetium [Lu]).
www.britannica.comU.S.-based Molycorp has begun production at its Mountain Pass mine and anticipates production at full capacity (19,050 metric tons) in 2014. Molycorp also operates a separation plant at Mountain Pass, CA, and sells rare earth concentrates and refined products from newly mined and previously mined above-ground stocks. Molycorp announced its purchase of Neo Materials
sgp.fas.orgDiscover what rare earth elements and metals are, their unique properties, and why they’re essential for modern technology, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.
www.wpi.eduFind out everything you need to know about rare earths such as dysprosium and neodymium. This includes extraction, areas of application and the political dimension.
rareearths.comMost rare earth elements find their uses as catalysts and magnets in traditional and low-carbon technologies.
www.mining.com