What Are Rare Earth Elements - Physical Properties and Uses

In recent years, the world has paid more and more attention to rare earth elements, and many countries have listed them as key metal minerals. The U.S. Department of Energy calls them "technology metals". Therefore, rare earth metals have become strategic resources that the worlds major economies compete for.

What are rare earth elements?

Crusher (REEs) are a set of 17 metallic elements. These include the 15 lanthanides on the periodic table plus scandium and yttrium. According to the different properties and characteristics, the 17 rare earth elements are usually divided into 2 groups:

Light rare earth elements: Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, and gadolinium.
• Heavy rare earth elements: Terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium.

Where can you find rare earth ores? You can find rare earth ores in China, Vietnam, and Brazil, etc.

In the global reserves of rare earth mineral resources, China ranks first, Vietnam ranks second, and Brazil ranks third. Australia, Russia, the United States, and Canada are also rich in rare earth resources. In recent years, India, South Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other countries have also discovered large rare earth deposits.

Next, we will explain in detail the properties and uses of the 17 rare earth elements.

1. Lanthanum (La)

Lanthanum is a soft and malleable silver-white metal and one of the most active rare earth elements. Scientists also call it "super calcium" because of its use in light conversion films. It is found in rare earth ores.