Rare Earth Metals & Elements | Definition, Properties, and Uses
Discover 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.eduScarce rare-earth ores are a group of 17 including scandium, yttrium, the 15 lanthanides from lanthanum to lutetium, found together in many ore deposits and essential to magnets, catalysts, and clean-energy tech. Cerium is the most abundant REE in the crust, whereas promethium does not occur naturally and is radioactive. Global supply chains have long depended on a few nations for mining and processing, driving continuous diversification efforts amid price volatility due to factors like mining, processing, and geopolitics. American Molycorp began production at Mountain Pass and targets full capacity to reach 19,050 metric tons, with a facility at Mountain for processing. Rare earth elements are used as catalysts and magnets across modern technology, supporting clean-energy apps and advanced manufacturing. Their global significance has prompted diversification along with supply chain reforms to mitigate price swings caused by mining, processing, and geopolitics. In sum, rare-earth elements remain vital to modern technology and green energy advancement.