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Rare Earth Elements: Beyond the Name, A Surprisingly Common Resource
Table of Contents
- 1. Rare Earth Elements: Beyond the Name, A Surprisingly Common Resource
- 2. The Origins of a misleading Name
- 3. What Exactly Are Rare Earth elements?
- 4. Switzerland Pressures China on Rare Earth exports: A Look at the Trade Landscape
- 5. Switzerland Pressures China on Rare earth Exports: A Look at the Trade Landscape
- 6. Why is Switzerland Involved? Rare Earths: Beyond the Basics
- 7. Switzerland’s Approach: Fair Trade and Stability
- 8. China’s Role: Dominance and strategic Objectives
- 9. China’s Rare Earth Strategy Explained
- 10. The Broader Global impact: Beyond Switzerland and China
- 11. Supply Chain Resilience & Geopolitical Tensions
- 12. Diversifying Supply and Mitigating Risk
Recent analysis reveals a common misconception surrounding the term “rare earth.” While historically named for the scarcity of their initial discovery, these elements are, in reality, not as uncommon as their moniker suggests.A group of 17 chemical elements, including scandium and the lanthanoids, collectively known as rare earth elements, are vital components in numerous modern technologies.
The Origins of a misleading Name
The story begins in the small Swedish village of Ytterby. In the early 19th century, a mine there yielded an unusual oxide within the mineral gadolinite. This uncommon find led to the isolation of several previously unknown elements, and the term “rare earth” was born, reflecting the initial difficulty in obtaining these substances. Though, this initial rarity did not translate to overall scarcity.
What Exactly Are Rare Earth elements?
According to the international Union of Pure and Applied chemistry (IUPAC), rare earth elements encompass scandium, yttrium, and the 15 lanthanoids. Scandium and yttrium are included not because of their geological rarity, but due to their frequent co-occurrence in the same mineral deposits as the lanthanoids and their similar chemical characteristics. Despite the name, most rare earth elements are present in relatively high concentrations within the Earth’s crust, wiht the exception of promethium, which is exceptionally unstable and primarily produced synthetically.
Here’s a rapid overview of some key rare earth elements:
| Element | Symbol | Atomic Number | Primary Uses | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neodymium | Nd | 60 | High-strength magnets, lasers | |||||||||||
| Dysprosium | Dy | 6
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| Country | Key Actions | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Investing in domestic rare earth production; forming partnerships. | Reduced reliance on China, increased self-sufficiency. |
| Australia | Expanding rare earth mining and processing. | Increased export capacity, global market share growth. |
| European Union | Supporting REE recycling initiatives and diversification of suppliers. | Improved resource security and sustainability. |
The global landscape around rare earths is rapidly evolving. more information can be found at the
