Rare rare-earth ores are a group of 17 including scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides ranging from lanthanum to lutetium, found together in many ore sources and essential to magnets, catalysts, and clean-energy tech. Cerium the most abundant REE in the crust, while promethium is not naturally occurring and is radioactive. Worldwide supply lines have historically depended on a few countries for mining and processing, prompting continuous diversification efforts amid price volatility due to factors like mining, processing, and geopolitics. American Molycorp started output at Mountain Pass and aims for full capacity in 2014, with a facility at Mountain for processing. Rare earths are found in catalysts and magnets across modern technology, supporting clean-energy applications and advanced manufacturing. Their worldwide importance has led to diversification along with supply chain reforms to mitigate price swings caused by mining, processing, and geopolitical factors. In sum, rare-earth elements remain crucial to modern technology and green energy development.
U.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.comRare-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.comMost rare earth elements find their uses as catalysts and magnets in traditional and low-carbon technologies.
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