Rare Earth Metals (REMs)

Rare Earth Metals (REMs) are a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements that are critical for modern technology. Despite the name, most of them are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust — but they are rarely found in concentrated, economically mineable deposits.

The Elements
Rare earth metals include:

Lanthanides (15 elements):

Atomic numbers 57–71: Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium, Promethium, Samarium, Europium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium, Erbium, Thulium, Ytterbium, Lutetium.

Two additional elements with similar properties: Scandium and Yttrium.

Key Properties
Silvery-white, lustrous metals.

Good conductors of heat and electricity.

High magnetic strength and catalytic properties.

Easily oxidised and chemically reactive.

Uses
Rare earth metals are crucial for:

Electronics – Smartphones, computers, televisions, and LED lights (e.g., Europium for red phosphors).

Green technology – Wind turbine magnets, electric vehicle motors (Neodymium, Dysprosium).

Military – Guidance systems, radar, lasers.

Energy storage – Batteries for hybrid/electric vehicles (Lanthanum).

Medical applications – MRI contrast agents (Gadolinium).

Major Producers
China dominates the global supply (over 60–70% of production).

Other sources: USA, Australia, Myanmar, India, and Russia.

Challenges
Mining impact: Extraction often produces toxic and radioactive waste.

Supply chain risk: Heavy reliance on a few countries makes global markets vulnerable.

Recycling difficulty: Separating rare earths from used products is technically challenging.

Fun fact
Despite their high-tech importance, rare earth metals are not “rare” in amount — Cerium, for instance, is more common in Earth’s crust than copper. Their “rare” status comes from how tricky and costly it is to extract and refine them.

Source:https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/india-russia-exploring-opportunities-in-rare-earth-critical-minerals-extraction/articleshow/123146294.cms?from=mdr