Rare Earth Metals

Rare earth metals are a group of seventeen chemically similar elements that occur together in mineral deposits and are separated only with considerable difficulty. Despite their name they are not especially scarce, but the concentration and separation process is complex, involving solvent extraction cascades that must be tailored to the specific ore composition. Rare earths are used in phosphorescent materials for colour television tubes, in speciality glass and ceramics, as catalysts, and in permanent magnets. The last of these applications is extremely important, as being the most powerful natural magnets, rare earths are required in bleeding-edge Electronics Technology 🔋.