By Oluwasheun Olayanju
Introduction
Rare earth metals have recently become a popular discussion and even a common headline in recent times.
Rare earth metals are an indispensable part of modern technology, serving as critical components in a vast range of industries, including consumer electronics, renewable energy, medical devices, and national defense.
These elements are key to the production of smartphones, electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, and military applications such as precision-guided missiles and stealth technology.
Their strategic importance has triggered intense competition among nations, leading to efforts to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on dominant producers like China.
What Are Rare Earth Metals?
Rare earth elements (REEs) consist of 17 chemically similar elements: the 15 lanthanides, along with scandium and yttrium.
While these elements are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, they are rarely found in concentrated, economically extractable deposits.
This dispersion makes their mining and refining complex, energy-intensive, and environmentally challenging.
REEs are categorized into light and heavy rare earth elements.
Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs)
Heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) are a subset of the 17 rare earth elements (REEs) and generally include elements from gadolinium to lutetium, along with yttrium.
Heavy rare earth elements, HREEs are less abundant and are mainly found in specialized mineral deposits such as xenotime and ion-adsorption clays.
These elements are crucial in high-tech applications, particularly in clean energy and defense industries.
Heavy REEs are scarcer and more valuable due to their unique properties in high-tech applications.
Extracting and processing these elements require specialized technology and infrastructure, further adding to their strategic significance in the global economy.
HREEs are essential for cutting-edge technologies, including renewable energy, defense systems, medical imaging, and aerospace engineering.
Their scarcity and complex extraction processes make them highly valuable and often subject to geopolitical tensions.
China dominates HREE production, but efforts are underway to diversify the supply chain and explore new mining sites worldwide.
List of Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs) and their uses
Gadolinium (Gd) – Used in MRI contrast agents, neutron shielding in nuclear reactors, and specialized alloys.
Terbium (Tb) – Critical for green phosphors in lighting and displays, as well as in high-temperature magnets.
Dysprosium (Dy) – Enhances the heat resistance of neodymium-based magnets, making it vital for electric vehicles and wind turbines.
Holmium (Ho) – Used in nuclear control rods, lasers, and some high-powered magnets.
Erbium (Er) – Found in fiber optic communication systems and laser medical applications.
Thulium (Tm) – A key component in portable X-ray machines and laser devices.
Ytterbium (Yb) – Used in stress gauges, fiber optics, and as a doping agent for high-powered lasers.
Lutetium (Lu) – Utilized in PET scan detectors, catalysts in petroleum refining, and advanced optics.
Yttrium (Y) – A critical element in superconductors, ceramic materials, and LED displays.
Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs)
Light rare earth elements (LREEs) are a subset of the 17 rare earth elements (REEs) and include the first half of the lanthanide series, from lanthanum to samarium, along with scandium.
These elements are more abundant in the Earth’s crust compared to heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), making them relatively easier to extract and process.
However, they are still considered strategically important due to their widespread applications in modern technology.
Significance and Applications
LREEs are integral to modern industries such as renewable energy, telecommunications, and defense.
Their role in high-performance magnets makes them essential for electric vehicles (EVs) and wind turbines, supporting global efforts for sustainable energy.
Additionally, they contribute to advanced optics, aerospace technology, and medical imaging, making them indispensable in high-tech manufacturing.
Despite their relative abundance, refining LREEs requires complex chemical separation processes, often leading to environmental and geopolitical challenges in their supply chain.
List of Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs)
Lanthanum (La) – Used in hybrid car batteries, catalysts for petroleum refining, and optical lenses.
Cerium (Ce) – Plays a major role in catalytic converters, glass polishing, and self-cleaning ovens.
Praseodymium (Pr) – Essential for making high-strength permanent magnets in wind turbines and electric vehicles.
Neodymium (Nd) – A key component in neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, which are used in motors, headphones, and speakers.
Promethium (Pm) – A radioactive element used in nuclear batteries and specialized luminous paints.
Samarium (Sm) – Used in samarium-cobalt (SmCo) magnets, which are critical for aerospace and defense applications.
Where Are They Found?
A newly developed geological map has highlighted key global deposits of rare earth metals.
China remains the dominant player, controlling approximately 60% of global mine production and about 90% of rare earth processing and permanent magnet output.
Other major sources include:
Africa: Countries like Morocco and South Africa hold significant reserves, particularly of zinc, lithium, and cobalt, which are critical for renewable energy and battery technology.
South America: Chile and Brazil boast vast lithium reserves, a crucial component of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Ukraine: Recently identified as an emerging rare earth hub, Ukraine holds around 5% of the world’s reserves, adding a geopolitical dimension to the global supply chain.
Nigeria: Research indicates that Nigeria has deposits of rare earth metals, particularly in regions such as Kogi, Nasarawa, and Plateau states. While the extent of these reserves is still under study, they could play a role in the country’s mineral resource development in the future.
Challenges and Environmental Concerns
The extraction and processing of rare earth metals pose significant environmental and health risks due to the intensive mining and refining processes involved.
Open-pit mining, the most common extraction method, results in large-scale deforestation, habitat destruction, and soil erosion.
Additionally, the chemical processes used to separate rare earth elements (REEs) from ores often involve toxic solvents, acids, and large quantities of water, leading to hazardous waste by-products.
If not properly managed, these wastes can contaminate groundwater, rivers, and agricultural lands, posing long-term health risks to nearby communities.
Many rare earth ores contain radioactive elements such as thorium and uranium, which create additional hazards.
When improperly handled, these radioactive materials can accumulate in mining waste, leading to long-term radiation exposure and potential contamination of ecosystems.
Furthermore, rare earth mining generates fine dust particles containing heavy metals, which can be inhaled by workers and local populations, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases and other health complications.
Although research into more sustainable extraction methods is ongoing, including bio-leaching and ion-adsorption techniques, these alternatives have yet to be widely implemented due to high costs and technical challenges.
Governments and industries are under increasing pressure to adopt environmentally responsible sourcing and recycling practices to mitigate these impacts.
The Global Race for Rare Earths
As demand for rare earth elements (REEs) continues to soar, governments and industries worldwide are scrambling to secure stable and diversified supply chains.
China has long dominated rare earth production, accounting for over 60% of global mining and nearly 90% of processing capacity, giving it significant geopolitical leverage over these critical materials.
In response, the U.S. and European nations have ramped up investments in domestic mining projects and refining facilities, aiming to reduce dependence on Chinese exports.
Africa is emerging as a key player in the global rare earth market, with countries like Madagascar, Burundi, and South Africa developing their reserves.
Latin American nations are also being explored for their untapped mineral potential.
Meanwhile, Ukraine, despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, holds approximately 5% of the world’s rare earth reserves, making it an important future supplier.
Efforts are also underway to recycle rare earth elements from electronic waste and develop alternative materials for high-tech applications.
As nations compete for access to these essential resources, the global rare earth market is becoming increasingly strategic, shaping the future of clean energy, defense, and advanced technology industries.
Diversifying rare earth supply chains will not only stabilize global markets but also make these essential materials more affordable and widely available.
Governments and corporations are working to diversify rare earth supply chains.
The U.S., EU, and Japan are investing in mining, recycling, and alternative sources while implementing sustainability policies.
Private companies are funding new mines, developing recycling programs, and using blockchain for transparent sourcing.
Conclusion
Rare earth metals are indispensable to modern technology and industrial applications, making them a focal point in the global economy.
With China leading production and other nations racing to secure their own sources, the geopolitical and environmental implications of rare earth mining will continue to shape the future.
For African nations, particularly Nigeria and other resource-rich countries, this is a defining moment.
As demand surges due to the global push for green energy and technological advancements, governments and corporations are heavily investing in both known and newly discovered rare earth deposits to secure long-term supply stability.
For African nations, this presents both an opportunity and a warning.
While countries like China, the United States, and Australia have long exploited rare earth resources for economic and strategic advantages, Africa—with its untapped reserves—risks being left behind if proactive steps are not taken.
Nations like Nigeria, Tanzania, and South Africa possess significant mineral wealth, yet they remain underutilized.
Now is the time for African governments to recognize the value of these critical elements, invest in local mining and refining capabilities, and position themselves as key players in the global rare earth market.
Failure to act could result in the continued reliance on foreign supply chains, leaving Africa at the mercy of global power struggles over these invaluable resources.
The global shift toward clean energy and advanced technology provides an unprecedented chance to harness these critical minerals for economic growth.
However, if proactive steps are not taken—such as investing in mining, refining, and responsible extraction—the continent will remain a passive player, dependent on imported materials instead of leveraging its own wealth.
The time to act is now.
African leaders must prioritize rare earth metals as part of their economic and industrial strategy, ensuring that the continent benefits from its natural resources rather than being exploited for them.
With proper investment, regulation, and collaboration, Africa can emerge as a powerful force in the rare earth supply chain, driving innovation and self-sufficiency in the decades to come.
Acknowledgements: This feature is informed by research from Reuters, The Daily Galaxy, and additional sources on global rare earth metal distribution.
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