What are Rare Earth Elements?
- REE is a set of seventeen elements in the periodic table. These include the fifteen lanthanides on the periodic table plus scandium and yttrium.
- REE are all metals, and the group is often referred to as the “rare earth metals.
- Although called “rare”, they are actually found relatively abundantly in the Earth’s crust.
Why they are called “rare”? –
- These metals are very difficult to mine because it is unusual to find them in concentrations high enough for economical extraction.
- These metals have many similar properties, and that often causes them to be found together in geologic deposits.
- They are also referred to as “rare earth oxides” because many of them are typically sold as oxide compounds.