Understanding Rare Earths

Rare earth elements, which include 17 specific minerals, are often misunderstood regarding their availability. Contrary to their name, they are abundant in the Earth's crust, making them not particularly rare in a geological sense. However, the difficulty lies in the extraction and processing of these elements, which are complex and resource-intensive processes. This challenge has led to a heavy reliance on China for their supply, resulting in significant geopolitical implications for countries seeking to diversify their sources.