The Rare Earth Elements: An Introduction Apr 2026

Lanthanum is widely used in petroleum refining, while cerium is a staple in automotive catalytic converters. 3. Global Supply Chain and Geopolitics

The Rare Earth Elements: An Introduction are a set of seventeen metallic elements, including the fifteen lanthanides on the periodic table plus scandium and yttrium. Despite their name, they are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust; however, they are rarely found in concentrated, economically exploitable deposits, making their extraction and refinement uniquely challenging. 1. Classification and Chemical Nature The REEs are divided into two main categories: The Rare Earth Elements: An Introduction

These same magnets are vital for the generators in wind turbines and the motors of electric vehicles (EVs). Lanthanum is widely used in petroleum refining, while