US seeks rare earth elements

Rare earth elements may be a mystery to many people, but they are very important components of many of the items used in homes and offices every day.

While 97 per cent of the world's supply is controlled by China, the US has the third largest reserves of rare earth elements.

But the only US mine where those elements are found is currently inactive, and US officials are beginning to view rare earths as a matter of national priority.

Al Jazeera's Rob Reynolds reports from Mountain Pass, California, once the site of the world's leading producer of rare earth elements.

China's Rare Earth Minerals monopoly

China Rare Earth Minerals monopoly


Rare earth metals are a collection of 17 chemical elements that are key to the production of a long list of modern-day technologies.

Despite their name, the elements are relatively plentiful in the earth's crust. However, because of their geochemical properties, the elements are not often found in concentrated forms that are economically viable to extract. Mining them is not only complex but costly, so many countries are cautious.

China produces more than 95 per cent of the elements for the world's technology industry. The rest is supplied by the US, Estonia, India, Malaysia and Brazil.

That may change, however, as demand for rare-earth metals rises for use in products such as smartphones, electric and hybrid cars, common computer monitors and televisions.

Al Jazeera's Melissa Chan, reporting from Baotou in China, examines the importance of these elements.

Rare Earth Minerals Bubble ?

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