Why in the News?
China has suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets after US’s tariff embargo.
What Are Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and RE Magnets?
- REEs are a group of 17 elements in the periodic table, including Lanthanum (La), Neodymium (Nd), Europium (Eu), and Ytterbium (Yb).
- Though not rare, they are found in low concentrations, making extraction challenging and costly.
- Classification:
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- Light REEs (LREEs): Elements 57-63, such as La, Ce, Nd, and Sm.
- Heavy REEs (HREEs): Elements 64-71, like Gd, Tb, Dy, and Er.
- Scandium and Yttrium: Classified with HREEs due to similar chemical properties.
- Rare Earth Magnets are powerful permanent magnets made from elements like Neodymium (Nd), Samarium (Sm), and Dysprosium (Dy).
- They are far stronger and more efficient than traditional magnets, crucial for high-tech electronic applications.
Global Supply Chain of REEs:
- REEs are abundant but difficult to extract economically.
- China alone dominates, producing 70% of the global supply and controlling 80% of the refining capacity. REEs are primarily mined from China’s Bayan Obo mine.
- Australia, USA, Brazil, and Russia also contribute, though less significantly.
- Refining also is largely controlled by China, though other nations are working to build their own refining capabilities to reduce dependency.
| [UPSC 2022] Consider the following statements:
1. Monazite is a source of rare earths. 2. Monazite contains thorium. 3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India. 4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only* (c) 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
