Rare Earth Elements

Mineral sands deposits contain rare earth elements that power an expanding range of high-technology consumer goods and low-carbon technologies.

Medical science, manufacturing, electronics, renewable energy generation all use these critical materials.

Applications requiring rare earth elements include smartphones, computers, X-ray machines, medical lasers, plastics, catalytic converters, fibre optics, rechargeable batteries, hybrid cars, wind turbines, quantum computers, and advanced defence systems.

What are rare earth elements?

Rare earths are a group of 17 chemically-similar metallic elements comprised of the 15 lanthanide series elements and scandium and yttrium.

These elements have unique catalytic, metallurgical, nuclear, electrical, magnetic, and luminescent properties essential for modern technology.

The lanthanide series divides into light rare-earth elements and heavy rare-earth elements. Light rare-earth elements occur more abundantly and cost less than heavy rare-earth elements. Heavy rare-earth elements command premium prices due to their scarcity and critical applications in advanced technologies. The major physical properties that distinguish these categories relate to their atomic structure and magnetic characteristics, with heavy rare-earth elements offering superior magnetic strength and temperature resistance.

The scramble for security of supply

Historically, few producers and mines met global demand for rare-earth elements. China surpassed the United States as the world’s largest producer of rare-earth oxides in 1992. It has dominated global supply since the mid-1990s, controlling about 70% of production and nearly 90% of processing capacity.

Most production derives from the massive Bayan Obo iron–niobium–rare-earth elements deposit in Inner Mongolia, China, and from lateritic clays in southern China.

Recent geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities have sparked renewed international interest in developing alternative sources. Australia, Canada, and other nations are advancing new rare earth projects to diversify global supply chains.

The Donald Project is at the forefront of this new wave of projects.