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.comScarce earth elements are a set of 17 including 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 is not naturally occurring and is radioactive. Worldwide supply lines have long depended on a limited number of countries for mining and processing, prompting continuous diversification efforts amid price volatility due to mining, processing, and geopolitical factors. American Molycorp began production at Mountain Pass and aims for full capacity to reach 19,050 metric tons, with a facility at Mountain to processing. Rare earth elements 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 reduce price swings caused by mining, processing, and geopolitical factors. In sum, rare-earth elements continue to be vital for modern technology in green energy development.