Rare earth elements: Where in the world are they?
Most rare earth elements find their uses as catalysts and magnets in traditional and low-carbon technologies.
www.mining.comRare earth elements are a group of 17 featuring scandium, yttrium, the 15 lanthanides from lanthanum to lutetium, found together in numerous ore deposits that are critical for magnets, catalysts, and clean-energy tech. Cerium is 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 mining, processing, and geopolitical factors. American Molycorp began production at Mountain Pass and aims for full capacity in 2014, with a separation plant at Mountain for processing. Rare earth elements are used as catalysts and magnets across modern technology, driving clean-energy applications and advanced manufacturing. These global importance has led to diversification along with supply chain reforms to reduce price swings caused by mining, processing, and geopolitics. In sum, rare-earth elements continue to be vital to modern technology and green energy development.