7 ms·

For those of us who are unfamiliar, could somebody share some insight or background on these rare earth minerals?

curt 15y ago
Rare Earths are deposits of exotic minerals used in nearly every advanced technology today (wind mills to MRI's). California used to produce the entire world supply until China undercut the price. As demand boomed (prices going way up) and China started using them as a trade weapon so companies started looking for sources in more stable countries.
uvdiv 15y ago
They're a row of elements on the periodic table (lanthanides) which have a broad range of industrial uses (see the wiki). It is a misnomer, as many of them aren't particularly rare. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanthanide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanthanide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earth_element http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earth_element They occur all over the world. The US was once the leading producer, but (IMHO unreasonable) regulation forced its mines to close (they were in California). Currently China produces virtually all of them (97%-99%). There's a geopolitical stink about their protectionism: they're restricting exports, which (to my understanding) means they're intervening in favor of Chinese rare-earth consuming manufacturers (e.g. electronics industries). There's also human issues, in that the mines are a major pollution source and health hazard, and many (NYT estimates half) are operated illegally by crime syndicates. http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs087-02/ http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs087-02/ http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/us-china-rareearth-idUSTRE72L10I20110322 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/us-china-rareearth... http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/us-china-rareearth-eu-idUSTRE76D3Q620110714 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/us-china-rareearth... http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/09/rare-earth_metals http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/09/rare-earth_me... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/business/global/30smuggle.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/business/global/30smuggle....
- joe_the_user 15y ago
  Yes, Your last link certainly bears reading... The US was happy to allow China to produce the elements in hazardous conditions just as its happy to allow Chinese to "recycle" circuit boards in villages where they take them apart by bare hand. But when China begins restricting the export of these elements, then it is a scandal. And no, I am not any kind of fan of China...

curt 15y ago

Rare Earths are deposits of exotic minerals used in nearly every advanced technology today (wind mills to MRI's). California used to produce the entire world supply until China undercut the price. As demand boomed (prices going way up) and China started using them as a trade weapon so companies started looking for sources in more stable countries.

uvdiv 15y ago

They're a row of elements on the periodic table (lanthanides) which have a broad range of industrial uses (see the wiki). It is a misnomer, as many of them aren't particularly rare. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanthanide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanthanide http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earth_element http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_earth_element They occur all over the world. The US was once the leading producer, but (IMHO unreasonable) regulation forced its mines to close (they were in California). Currently China produces virtually all of them (97%-99%). There's a geopolitical stink about their protectionism: they're restricting exports, which (to my understanding) means they're intervening in favor of Chinese rare-earth consuming manufacturers (e.g. electronics industries). There's also human issues, in that the mines are a major pollution source and health hazard, and many (NYT estimates half) are operated illegally by crime syndicates. http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs087-02/ http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs087-02/ http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/us-china-rareearth-idUSTRE72L10I20110322 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/us-china-rareearth... http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/us-china-rareearth-eu-idUSTRE76D3Q620110714 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/us-china-rareearth... http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/09/rare-earth_metals http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/09/rare-earth_me... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/business/global/30smuggle.html?pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/business/global/30smuggle....

joe_the_user 15y ago
Yes, Your last link certainly bears reading... The US was happy to allow China to produce the elements in hazardous conditions just as its happy to allow Chinese to "recycle" circuit boards in villages where they take them apart by bare hand. But when China begins restricting the export of these elements, then it is a scandal. And no, I am not any kind of fan of China...