ImprovinghealthoutcomesEarly diagnosisand treatmentof a range of medicalconditions arenow possible.

High-techproductsAs technology advances,society demands faster, smaller, lighter andlonger-lasting devices.

Cleanenergy &reducingemissionsA green worldwith lower CO2emissions relieson miningnecessary materials to provide green technologies.

Renewable energy technologiesWind turbines and solar cells contain rare earths to operate and/or improve their power efficiency. A modern 3MW wind turbine uses 600kg of rare earths.

Hybrid & electric carsA typical hybrid car contains approximately 28kg of rare earths, including 1kg in the motor and 10-15kg in the battery.

Fluorescent light bulbsThese energy efficient lights are mandated in Australia and in the US. Rare earths are used in fluorescent lights (to create white light) and in LEDs.

Catalytic convertersRare earths are used in catalytic converters in the exhausts of all modern cars. Newer rare earth and zirconium oxides provide increased performance and higher temperature stability to reduce car exhaust emissions.

MRIMagnetic Resonance Imaging is used to scan medical patients, to determine the severity of injuries. An average MRI machine contains 700kg of rare earth metals.

Diagnosis and treatment Rare earth based PET imaging agents are used to detect cancer. Rare earth based drugs are providing treatments for lung, prostate, breast and bone cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

Tablets, smartphones and ipodsThese miniaturised computers require rare earths for better components with reduced weight and increased efficiency.

Rechargeable batteriesThese batteries power many electronic products, including electric cars. Approximately 25% of the nickel-metal hydride battery are rare earths.

ElectronicsRare earths are essential for electronic devices for computer components, global positioning systems (GPS), sonar, defence systems and lasers.

CommunicationsThe unique optical properties of rare earths are crucial to the latest fibre optic technologies that power the internet and telephone communications.

Mining the metals of the future

We rely on rare earths every day

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What are they?

REE demand 2017 by application World production

Mining the metals of the future

Rare earths/metals

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*Lanthanide series

**Actinide series

Rare metals

Heavy rare earths

Light rare earths

Bromine35

Br79.904

Krypton36

Kr83.798

Aluminium13

Al26.982

Silicon14

Si28.085

Phosphorus15

P30.974

Sulfur16

S32.06

Chlorine17

Cl35.45

Argon18

Ar39.948

Lithium3

Li6.94

Sodium11

Na22.990

Potassium19

K39.098

Rubidium37

Rb85.468

Caesium55

Cs132.905

Francium87

Fr223.02

Radium88

Ra226.03

Barium56

Ba137.327

Strontium38

Sr87.62

Calcium20

Ca40.078

Magnesium12

Mg24.305

Beryllium4

Be9.012

Scandium21

Sc44.956

57 -70

*89 -102

**

Yttrium39

Y88.906

Titanium22

Ti47.867

Vanadium23

V50.9415

Chromium24

Cr51.996

Manganese25

Mn54.938

Iron26

Fe55.845

Cobalt27

Co58.933

Nickel28

Ni58.693

Copper29

Cu63.546

Zinc30

Zn65.38

Gallium31

Ga69.723

Germanium32

Ge72.63

Arsenic33

As74.922

Selenium34

Se78.96

Boron5

B10.811

Carbon6

C12.011

Nitrogen7

N14.07

Oxygen8

O15.999

Fluorine9

F18.998

Neon10

Ne20.180

Helium2

He4.0026

Zirconium40

Zr91.224

Niobium41

Nb92.906

Molybdenum42

Mo95.95

Technetium43

Tc97.91

Ruthenium44

Ru101.07

Lawrencium103

Lr262.11

Rhodium45

Rh102.91

Palladium46

Pd106.42

Silver47

Ag107.87

Cadmium48

Cd112.41

Indium49

In114.82

Tin50

Sn118.71

Antimony51

Sb121.760

Tellurium52

Te127.60

Iodine53

I126.90

Xenon54

Xe131.29

Lutetium71

Lu174.97

Hafnium72

Hf178.49

Tantalum73

Ta180.95

Tungsten74

W183.84

Rhenium75

Re186.207

Osmuim76

Os190.23

Iridium77

Ir192.217

Platinum78

Pt195.08

Gold79

Au196.967

Mercury80

Hg200.59

Thallium81

Tl204.38

Lead82

Pb207.2

Bismuth83

Bi208.98

Polonium84

Po209

Astatine85

At210

Radon84

Rn222

Rutherfordium104

Rf265.12

Dubnium105

Db268.13

Seaborgium106

Sg271.13

Bohrium107

Bh272

Hassium108

Hs277.15

Meitnerium109

Mt276.15

Darmstaditum110

Ds281.16

Roentgenium111

Rg280.16

Copernicium112

Cn285.17

Flerovium114

Fl289

Lanthanum57

La138.91

Cerium58

Ce140.116

Praseodymium59

Pr140.907

Actinium89

Ac227.03

Thorium90

Th232.04

Protactinium91

Pa231.04

Uranium92

U238.03

Neptunium93

Np237.05

Plutonium94

Pu244.06

Americium95

Am243.06

Curium96

Cm247.07

Berkelium97

Bk247.07

Californium98

Cf251.08

Einsteinium99

Es252.08

Fermium100

Fm257.10

Mendelevium101

Md258.10

Nobelium102

No259.10

Neodymium60

Nd144.242

Promethium61

Pm144.91

Samarium62

Sm150.36

Europium63

Eu151.96

Gadolinium64

Gd157.25

Terbium65

Tb158.92

Dysprosium66

Dy162.50

Holmium67

Ho164.93

Erbium68

Er167.259

Thulium69

Tm168.93

Ytterbium70

Yb173.05

Hydrogen1

H1.008

Ununqadium115

UUp289.19

Alkane

Rare earths/metals are specialty metals, critical metals or boutique metals; they are in essence all new age metals. They are not rare, but usually require specialised recovery techniques.

Markets are often limited. However, they are critical to modern industrial applications, particularly for energy efficiency, electronic miniaturisation and emission minimisation.

Material produced DZP World market (2017)Zirconium materials (Zr02) 16,000tpa 175,000tpaRare earth oxides 6,000tpa 175,000tpaFerroniobium (FeNb) 3,000tpa 90,000tpa

Brazil85% of niobium

China70% of zirconium

chemicals

China90% of rare earths

5%

5%8%

18%

6%

12%

16%

27%

Catalysts

Glass

Polishing

Metal Alloys

Magnets

Phosphors

Ceramics

Other