While silicon may have been responsible for the revolution in the microchip industry, the human race would never have reached such a degree of sophistication in electronics if it was not for a class of often overlooked elements.
The 15 lanthanides — displayed offset below the rest of the periodic table — along with scandium and yttrium make up the so-called “rare-earth elements,” which are present in a wide range of devices used today, from smartphones to jet engines. And these metals are now more in demand than ever.
A report from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) revealed, in 2011, that Brazil is home to the world’s largest reserves of rare-earth elements, which are distributed throughout the Earth’s crust.
Their name, however, may be misleading. Rare-earth elements are not rare. In fact, there is as much cerium in the Earth’s crust as there is copper. The problem is that it is often difficult to encounter sufficient quantities to make mining them worthwhile.
Studies measure Brazil’s rare-earth reserves at roughly 3.5 billion tons, concentrated largely in the northern state of Amazonas, as well as the regions of Seis Lagos and Araxá in southeastern state Minas Gerais.
Back in 2011, Brazil’s Mines and Energy Ministry classified the rare-earth elements as “strategic minerals” in its 2030 National Plan, correctly believing that their use would increase exponentially in the coming years.
According to another study, entitled Uses and Applications of Rare-Earth Elements in Brazil:...
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