What Are Rare Earths Minerals And Why Are They Important?
A rare earth mineral is a mineral which contains one or more rare earth elements as major metal constituents. The majority of rare earth minerals today are mined in Asia, with China producing 93 percent of the world’s supply, and more than 99 percent of the most valuable supply. China now dominates mining of rare earths minerals which are used in an increasingly wide array of US civilian and defense applications. Rare earth minerals are essential for hundreds of commercial as well as military applications: electric motors and batteries for hybrid cars, wind-power turbines and solar panels, mobile phones, cameras, portable x-ray units, energy-efficient light bulbs and stadium lights, fiber optics, glass additives and polishing In a technology-intensive world, these rare earth minerals have become some of the most sought-after materials in modern manufacturing, even though they’re used in relatively small amounts. Now that China has complete dominance over the world industries, we must f
