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How Rare are Rare Earth Metals?
- Posted at 11:43 AM on Dec. 21, 2009 by ausetute There are 15 Rare Earth metals or lanthanides, from Lanthanum to Lutetium, in the Periodic Table of the elements. Surprisingly, these Rare Earth metals occur more commonly in the Earth's crust than precious metals such as gold and platinum. Rare Earth metal oxides which are used to make wind turbines, energy efficient lighting, hybrid and electric cars, however, are not very common and are rarely found in sufficient concentrations to allow for commercial mining and purification. These oxides are more frequently found alongside titanium dioxide, a compound used in cosmetics, medicines, electronics and transport. Currently, China holds about 95% of the world's reserves of rare earth metals, but researchers at the Leed's Faculty of Engineering have just discovered how to recover significant quantities of rare-earth oxides from titanium dioxide minerals which could increase the supply of rare-earth metals and lower the cost in the future. University of Leeds (2009, December 19). Valuable, rare, raw earth materials extracted from industrial waste stream. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 21, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/12/091215101708.htm Post Comment
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