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.eduRare earth ores remain a set of 17 including scandium, yttrium, the 15 lanthanides ranging from lanthanum to lutetium, occurring together in many ore sources and essential to magnets, catalysts, as well as 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 countries for mining and processing, prompting continuous diversification efforts and price volatility due to factors like mining, processing, and geopolitics. American Molycorp started output at Mountain Pass and targets full capacity in 2014, with a facility at Mountain for processing. Rare earths are found in catalysts and magnets across modern technology, supporting clean-energy applications and advanced manufacturing. These worldwide significance has prompted diversification and supply chain reforms to mitigate price swings from mining, processing, and geopolitical factors. Overall, rare-earth elements remain vital to modern technology and green energy advancement.