Relevance:
- Swedish state-owned mining company (LKAB) discovered more than one million tonnes of rare earth oxides in the northern area Sweden which is the largest known deposit in Europe.
- REE deposits were discovered in Arctic region of Kiruna, Sweden (home to world’s largest underground iron-ore mine).
Rare Earth Elements (REE):
- A set of 17 metallic elements on periodic table – 15 lanthanides + Scandium and Yttrium.
- 17 rare earths – cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and yttrium (Y).
- Applications – Consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications, clean and green energy, advanced transportation, healthcare, environmental mitigation, national defence, space shuttle components, jet engine turbines, and drones etc.
- Properties – High luster, high electrical conductivity, luminescence, magnetism etc.
- Occurrence – Heavy REE (higher atomic weights) are less common as compared to Light REE.
- Extraction – Involves complex processing and intensive environmental effects.
- Scenario –
- At present more than 80% of the world’s rare earths processing capacity is in China.
- India produces only 1% of global output despite having around 6% of world’s reserves.
- Uses of REE –
- Scandium: Televisions and fluorescent lamps
- Yttrium: In drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.
- Cerium: Space Research (NASA’s Space Shuttle Programme)
- Neodymium and Dysprosium: Wind turbine motors, electric vehicles
Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called ‘rare earth metals.’ Why? (2012)
- China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export.
- Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country.
- Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Reference: Indian Express
