Rare earth elements remain a set of 17 featuring scandium, yttrium, the 15 lanthanides ranging from lanthanum to lutetium, found together in numerous ore sources that are essential to magnets, catalysts, and clean-energy tech. Cerium the most abundant REE in the crust, whereas promethium does not occur naturally and is radioactive. Global supply chains have historically depended on a few nations for mining and processing, driving ongoing diversification efforts and 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 facility at Mountain for processing. Rare earth elements are found in catalysts and magnets across modern technology, driving clean-energy apps and advanced manufacturing. These 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 vital 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.eduRare-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.comFind 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.
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