Rare-earth elements (REEs)
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: TH
Subject: Economics
Context: Rare-earth elements are drawing global attention as essential inputs for green technologies, electronics, and defence systems, amid supply-chain vulnerabilities.
About Rare-earth elements (REEs):
What they are?
• Rare-earth elements are a group of 17 metallic elements comprising the 15 lanthanides (lanthanum to lutetium) plus scandium and yttrium, known for their unique magnetic, optical, and electronic properties.
Key characteristics:
• Physical features:
• Mostly silvery, soft metals with high density High melting points and good thermal stability Often used in oxide form due to reactivity
• Mostly silvery, soft metals with high density
• High melting points and good thermal stability
• Often used in oxide form due to reactivity
• Chemical features:
• Predominantly exhibit a +3 oxidation state Possess 4f electrons that are highly localised, giving rise to: Strong magnetism (high magnetic moments) Sharp, stable optical emissions (phosphors, lasers) Chemically very similar to each other, making separation complex and energy-intensive.
• Predominantly exhibit a +3 oxidation state
• Possess 4f electrons that are highly localised, giving rise to: Strong magnetism (high magnetic moments) Sharp, stable optical emissions (phosphors, lasers)
• Strong magnetism (high magnetic moments)
• Sharp, stable optical emissions (phosphors, lasers)
• Chemically very similar to each other, making separation complex and energy-intensive.
Distribution in the world:
• REEs are not evenly distributed and occur in minerals like bastnäsite, monazite, and ion-adsorption clays.
• Major global reserves (approximate): China: ~44 million tonnes (dominant in refining) Brazil: ~21 million tonnes India: ~6.9 million tonnes Australia: ~5.7 million tonnes Russia, Vietnam, USA, Greenland – smaller but strategic reserves
• China: ~44 million tonnes (dominant in refining)
• Brazil: ~21 million tonnes
• India: ~6.9 million tonnes
• Australia: ~5.7 million tonnes
• Russia, Vietnam, USA, Greenland – smaller but strategic reserves
• China controls ~90%+ of global refining and magnet production, making midstream processing the real strategic bottleneck.