Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 critical metallic elements indispensable for modern technology. Though not always rare, their complex extraction...
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metallic elements comprising the 15 lanthanides plus yttrium and scandium, prized for their unique magnetic, catalytic, and optical properties.
REEs are crucial for modern technology as they are vital components in smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, medical imaging, and advanced defense systems, enabling their functionality and efficiency.
Despite their name, many REEs are relatively abundant in the Earth's crust. The 'rare' aspect refers more to their dispersed nature and the economic difficulty and environmental impact of extracting and processing them.
Key challenges include complex, often environmentally intensive extraction processes, a highly concentrated global supply chain (primarily China), and the geopolitical implications of securing their consistent supply for various industries.