Rare earth elements are materials critical for manufacturing products ranging from consumer electronics to jet engines.
October 13, 2025
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General definition of the role of rare earth elements in manufacturing
The 2025 U.S. Geological Survey found that China is the sole or dominant source of eight of the nine minerals for which a supply disruption would be most damaging to the U.S. economy.
January 01, 2025
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USGS assessment of minerals critical to U.S. economic vulnerability.
The Brookings Institution stated in 2022 that there are 17 rare earth elements (REE).
January 01, 2022
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Definition and count of the set of elements referred to as rare earth elements.
Samarium is a key rare-earth element used in permanent magnets for military jets and missiles.
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Role of samarium in permanent-magnet production for defense applications.
Rare-earth permanent magnets are used in technologies including fighter jets and wind turbines.
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Common applications of rare-earth magnets in defense and renewable energy.
The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is geologically rich in metals including tungsten, and the United States is heavily reliant on China for tungsten supply.
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Geographic concentration of certain strategic metals and U.S. supply dependence.