Touch screens on cell phones, fluorescent light tubes, components in electric cars, and many of the technological devices we use require chemical elements with a special name to function properly: rare earths. Although their name might suggest it, these elements are not as rare as they seem, but their importance is growing in today's technological landscape. Many people wonder,What are the rare lands?
In this article, we will explore what rare earths are, why they are crucial to modern technology, where they come from, and how their exploitation has global economic and environmental implications.
¿What are the rare lands?
Rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements which, despite their name, are not particularly rare in the Earth's crust. These elements include lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu), scandium (Sc), and yttrium (Y).
Throughout the history of chemistry, oxides were known as 'earths', hence the name. Although some of these elements are more common today than their name suggests, their specific use in modern technology makes them highly valuable components. For example, cerium is almost as abundant as copper.
These elements are known to share unique properties such as high electrical conductivity, magnetic and luminescent properties, making them indispensable for many advanced technological applications.
What makes rare earths important?
The use of rare earths began to increase significantly during the 1950s and 1960s, especially in the military industry. However, in the last 15 years, their demand has grown exponentially due to their essential role in the production of advanced technologies that we use every day.
For example, rare earth magnets such as neodymium are used in electric motors in vehicles and wind turbines. These magnets are extremely powerful, which allows for more compact and efficient motors. Added to this, elements such as lanthanum and neodymium are essential for the batteries that power electric and hybrid vehicles.
The renewable energy They also rely heavily on rare earth elements. Wind turbines, for example, use these elements to improve their energy efficiency. In addition, elements such as europium and terbium are used in LED and LCD screens to improve image quality and colour.
Although some elements, such as cerium, are not particularly scarce, the difficulty of extraction and refining and the low concentration of other elements in the Earth's crust make their production expensive and complex. This process can be environmentally harmful and is controlled by only a few countries, making rare earths a strategic and critical resource for the global economy.
Where are rare earths obtained from?
Historically, countries such as the United States and Australia were the main producers of rare earths. However, since the 1990s, China It has practically dominated world production, controlling 97% of the market in 2011.
This geopolitical concentration has generated global concern, as the interruption of supply by China could seriously affect the production of electric vehicles, electronic devices, defense technologies, among many other industries dependent on these elements.
In recent years, efforts have emerged to reduce dependence on ChinaCountries such as Australia, Greenland and Brazil have stepped up their efforts to explore new deposits. In addition, the European Union has invested in geological exploration to identify new sources on its territory, such as the recent discovery of deposits in Sweden which could relieve pressure on the market.
Environmental impacts of rare earth mining
One of the biggest challenges of rare earth production is its high environmental impact. The process of extracting and refining these elements is highly polluting. The techniques used to extract rare earths generate large amounts of toxic waste that can contaminate water, air and soil.
In addition, during extraction and processing, it is common to find other radioactive elements, such as thorium, which aggravate the environmental impact. This is a matter of growing concern, especially in China, where most of this activity takes place.
To address these issues, companies and industries are looking for ways to improve extraction processes and make them more sustainable. Investment in recycling technologies is also increasing to reduce the need to continually extract new rare earth elements.
Circular economy and recycling of rare earths
One way to mitigate the environmental impact and reduce dependence on China is to implement a circular economy where rare earths can be recovered, reused and recycled.
Currently, only a small part, less than 1%, of the rare earths in circulation are recycled. However, the potential is considerable and companies such as Tesla have begun exploring options to reduce the amount of rare earths needed in their electric motors.
Adopting the circular economy in the rare earth industry could not only reduce mining demand but also lead to more efficient and sustainable technological innovations. Recycling these elements is key to ensuring a stable and secure supply in the future.
As demand for rare earths continues to grow, the search for more sustainable extraction methods and the development of more efficient recycling technologies will be critical to addressing the challenges posed by the use of these valuable elements.