Scarce earth ores are a set of 17 including scandium, yttrium, and the 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 plentiful REE in the crust, while promethium does not occur naturally and is radioactive. Global supply chains have historically depended on a few countries for mining and processing, prompting continuous diversification efforts and price volatility due to mining, processing, and geopolitical factors. U.S.-based Molycorp began production at Mountain Pass and targets full capacity in 2014, with a separation plant at Mountain to processing. Rare earth elements are found in catalysts and magnets across modern technology, supporting clean-energy applications and advanced manufacturing. These worldwide importance has led to diversification and supply chain reforms to mitigate price swings from mining, processing, and geopolitics. Overall, rare-earth elements remain crucial 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.orgFind 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.comDiscover 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.edu