Quick Links

Home / IAS Preparation / Rare Earth Minerals

Rare Earth Minerals - India’s Position on Rare Earth Minerals Reserve, History, Significance, UPSC

Last Updated on Mar 21, 2025

IMPORTANT LINKS

Agriculture Notes For UPSC Public Administration UPSC Notes Modern History Books For UPSC Overseas Citizen Of India Caste System & Panchayati Raj Godavari River Federalism In India Indira Point New Development Bank Battle Of Sinhagad Sankalp And Strive Schemes Digital India High Yielding Varieties Economic Growth Development League Of Nations Ease Of Doing Business Mid Day Meal Scheme Wildlife Protection Act 1972 UPSC Notes International Union Conservation Nature

Rare Earth Elements (REE) are a collection of seventeen metallic elements. These include the periodic table’s fifteen lanthanides, as well as scandium and yttrium. Rare earth elements are used in numerous high-tech equipment. Rare earth metals constitute a group of seventeen metallic elements, consisting of the fifteen lanthanides found on the periodic table, along with scandium and yttrium. Scandium and yttrium exhibit comparable physical and chemical properties to the lanthanides. The 17 Rare Earths encompass 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).

To understand the topic in detail, Testbook prepares the best quality notes for civil service aspirants. Study major topics of Indian Geography from the perspective of UPSC Exams.

What are the Rare Earth Minerals?

Rare earth elements are quite prevalent in the planet’s crust, with cerium ranking 25th at 68 parts per million. This makes it as plentiful as copper. Rare Earth Elements are generally scattered due to their geochemical characteristics. This implies they are rarely discovered in dense enough clusters to be mined. Because of their rarity, these minerals are known as rare earth. Rare Earth is a set of 15 periodic table elements known as the Lanthanide series, plus Yttrium. Rare earth is divided into two groups: light elements (lanthanum through samarium) and heavy elements (europium to lutetium). These are less common and, as a result, more costly.

Where do Rare Earth Minerals come from?

Rare Earth is a potent reducing agent in chemistry. Their compounds are mostly ionic, with high melting and boiling points. Rare earth is generally soft when metallic, but those with a higher atomic number are harder.
Rare Earth reacts with other metallic and nonmetallic elements to generate compounds with distinct chemical properties.
As a result, they are important and irreplaceable in a wide range of electrical, optical, magnetic, and catalytic applications.
Under UV light, rare earth compounds are typically fluorescent, which can aid in their identification. Rare earth can also form hydrogen gas when combined with water or diluted acid.

Know more about Cyclones and Anticyclones

Rare Earth Elements

Rare Earth Element	Current Applications
Yttrium	Phosphors, ceramics, metal alloys
Lanthanum	Batteries, catalysts for petroleum refining
Cerium	Autocatalysts, Chemical catalysts, glass polishing, metal alloys
Praseodymium	High power magnets, yellow ceramic pigment, Autocat
Neodymium	High power magnets
Promethium	Beta radiation source
Samarium	High-temperature magnets,
Europium	fluorescent lighting
Gadolinium	Magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, nuclear reactor rods
Terbium	Phosphors for lighting, high power high-temperature magnets
Dysprosium	High power high-temperature magnets, lasers
Holmium	Highest power magnets in existence
Erbium	Lasers, glass colorant
Thulium	Ceramic magnetic materials which are still under development
Ytterbium	Fiber optic technology, solar panels
Lutetium	PET scanners

World Rare Earth Mineral Resources

History of World Rare Earth Minerals Trade

Lieutenant Carl Axel Arrhenius discovered the first rare earth when he uncovered a hefty, black rock in a mine in the Swedish hamlet of Ytterby. He gave the rock the name ytterbite (later renamed gadolinite).
More rare earth discoveries and advances occurred in Sweden during the early and late 1800s. By 1803 there were two known rare earth elements, yttrium, and cerium, for example. It took another 30 years for researchers to realize that these two ores included other rare earth elements.
By 1842, a total of six rare elements had been proven, including yttrium, cerium, lanthanum, didymium, erbium, and terbium.
The next breakthrough occurred in the 1940s when scientists in the United States devised chemical ion exchange processes for extracting and purifying rare earth elements as part of the Manhattan Project.
There were more discoveries of new rare earth and how they may be utilized during the next few decades, but there was relatively little demand before 1965. At the time, the majority of the world’s supply was derived from placer deposits in India and Brazil.
South Africa became the largest producer of rare earth-bearing monazite deposits in the 1950s.
Following the introduction of the first color television sets in the mid-1960s, demand for rare earth skyrocketed.
By the 1980s, China had begun to produce significant quantities of rare earth elements. China was recognized as the world’s largest producer a decade later.
Throughout the 2000s, global demand for rare earth metals increased dramatically, notably in the defense, aviation, industrial, consumer electronics, and low-carbon industries.

What are the 15 Rare Earth Minerals?

The periodic table contains a group of seventeen chemical elements known as rare earth elements.
The group is made up of yttrium and 15 lanthanide elements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium).

India’s Position on Rare Earth Minerals Reserve

India possesses the world’s fifth-largest deposits of rare earth minerals. Due to the radioactivity of monazite sands, Indian Rare Earths Ltd is the sole manufacturer of rare earth compounds under the Department of Atomic Energy.

Globally, China holds a monopoly on rare earth, following the United States’ withdrawal from this business due to severe environmental and health concerns.

China once almost paralyzed the Japanese economy by suspending the shipment of rare earth materials. India is also endowed with critical rare earth minerals such as zirconium, neodymium, and others, which are abundant in monazite sands. If used correctly, this might help Indian export markets.

However, the production of rare earth minerals has decreased over time due to a variety of factors such as cost reduction due to high production (economies of scale) in China, a lack of demand in the local market, and a lack of domestic processing technology.

The majority of items including rare earth minerals as raw components are imported. Despite the fact that rare earth minerals offer a significant value and add the potential for export development, India has suffered due to poor processing technology.

Study the Article Seismology here!

Significance Of Rare Earth Minerals

Rare Earth Metals and Alloys containing them are utilized in many everyday technologies, including computer memory, DVDs, rechargeable batteries, mobile phones, catalytic converters, magnets, fluorescent lights, and many more.

Rare Earth Compounds are used in the manufacture of many rechargeable batteries. Pocket electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, readers, portable laptops, and cameras boost the demand for batteries.

Rare Earth Elements are critical to our national defense. Night-vision goggles, precision-guided weaponry, communications devices, GPS systems, batteries, and other defensive technologies are all used by the military.

In some defense applications, alternatives for rare earth elements can be utilized; however, those substitutes are typically less effective, reducing military supremacy.

Also Learn about Glacial Erosional Landforms

Uses Of Rare Earth Minerals & Metals

The elements of rare earth minerals are significant in consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications, clean energy, advanced transportation, healthcare, environmental mitigation, and national defense technologies, among others.

Scandium is used in televisions and fluorescent lamps, whereas yttrium is employed in rheumatoid arthritis and cancer medications.

Rare Earth elements are employed in components for space shuttles, jet engine turbines, and drones. The most prevalent Rare Earth element, cerium, is critical to NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.

The batteries that power every electric car and hybrid-electric vehicle include many pounds of rare earth compounds. As worries about energy independence, climate change, and other issues drive the sale of electric and hybrid cars, demand for rare earth compound batteries will rise even faster.

Rare earth is utilized in the production of catalysts, phosphors, and polishing compounds.

These are used to manage air pollution, brighten electronic device screens, and polish optical-quality glass. All of these items are projected to see increased demand.

Other chemicals can be used in place of rare earth elements in their most essential applications; however, these substitutes are often less effective and more expensive.

Check the Other Heat Budget of the Earth here.

Rare Earth Minerals: Major Facts For UPSC

Rare Earth Minerals are critical for India to lessen its energy load. It is a critical component in the production of hybrid cars, fuel cells, and LEDs.

It is required in the production of advanced defense equipment.

It is critical for the purification of the rivers that run through the nation.

It is utilized in the production of mobile phones, laptops, digital networks, optical fiber cables, and other IT devices that will aid our Digital India initiative.

Canada possesses some of the world’s greatest known deposits and resources (measured and indicated) of rare earth, with over 14 million tonnes of rare earth oxides expected in 2021.

Manufacturing permanent magnets is the most important global use for REEs, accounting for 29% of total predicted demand.

China is the world’s largest producer, accounting for over 60% of worldwide output with an expected 140,000 tonnes of REEs in 2020.

Although many nations, including Canada, contain rare earth minerals, creating REEs necessitates complicated separation and refining methods.

China is the world’s largest producer of REEs, accounting for about 60% of worldwide yearly output.

Attempt the GK Quiz on Types of Soils in India now!

Conclusion
Over the next decade, worldwide demand for autos, consumer electronics, energy-efficient lighting, and catalysts is predicted to skyrocket. Demand for rare earth magnets is predicted to rise, as is the demand for rechargeable batteries. The usage of surgical lasers, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography scintillation detectors is likely to expand as medical technology advances. Because rare earth elements are widely employed in all of these industries, demand for them is expected to stay strong.
In this article, we studied Rare Earth Elements, World Rare Mineral Resources, and history in detail along with their significance. To study more topics from Indian Geography for UPSC, download the Testbook App now!

Rare earth minerals FAQs

What are the main Rare Earth Minerals?

The seventeen rare earth elements are 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.

Where do 98% of Rare Earth Minerals come from?

The minerals bastnasite, monazite, and loparite, as well as lateritic ion-adsorption clays, are the primary commercial sources of rare earth.

What are Rare Earth Minerals used for?

REEs are employed in a wide range of industrial applications including electronics, clean energy, aerospace, automotive, and defence.

Are Rare Earth Minerals valuable?

Rare earth metals are valued despite their abundance because they are difficult to get and in great demand.

Which Country has the rarest Earth Minerals?

China has the rarest earth mineral deposits, at 44 million MT. By far the world's leading rare earth producer in 2020, the country produced 140,000 MT.

Report An Error

UPSC Exams

Latest Update

Coaching

UPSC Current Affairs

Syllabus

UPSC Notes

Previous Year Papers

Mock Tests

UPSC Editorial

Bilateral Ties

Books

Government Schemes

Topics

NASA Space Missions

ISRO Space Missions