[BostonCard]

I mean, Nickel is “rare” compared to silicon and iron; that’s not a useful comparison.  Moreover, the amount of material needed is orders of magnitude lower for rare earths.

https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/wp...ation.html

Humanity mines 3 billion tons of iron ore a year.  production of all rare earth metals combined is 220,000 tons 15,000x less than iron.

Rare earth production is highly concentrated in China (85%) which is problematic, and a reason to diversify production.  But it’s not because it is only available in China, but because the Chinese subsidized mining and drove pretty much everyone else out of business.

I think if deep sea mining of poly metallic nodules can be commercialized, it should provide substantial amounts of rare earths, as well as a number of other industrially important metals.

BC

[BostonCard]

I mean, Nickel is “rare” compared to silicon and iron; that’s not a useful comparison.  Moreover, the amount of material needed is orders of magnitude lower for rare earths.

https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/wp...ation.html

Humanity mines 3 billion tons of iron ore a year.  production of all rare earth metals combined is 220,000 tons 15,000x less than iron.

Rare earth production is highly concentrated in China (85%) which is problematic, and a reason to diversify production.  But it’s not because it is only available in China, but because the Chinese subsidized mining and drove pretty much everyone else out of business.

I think if deep sea mining of poly metallic nodules can be commercialized, it should provide substantial amounts of rare earths, as well as a number of other industrially important metals.

BC