Rare earth materials

Rare earth materials are a group of 17 chemical elements found in the Earth's crust, essential for making many modern technologies like smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced electronics. Despite their name, they are relatively abundant but are tough to extract and process, often occurring in low concentrations within mineral deposits. Their unique magnetic, luminous, and conductive properties make them critical for innovation, but their supply chain can be geopolitically sensitive. Efficient recycling and sustainable mining practices are increasingly important to meet global demand while minimizing environmental impact.