Rare earth elements are a group of chemical elements that are not actually scarce but are difficult to extract because they are geologically dispersed and typically occur mixed with other rocks and minerals.
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descriptive
Definition and extraction characteristics of rare earth elements
China is the dominant global miner and supplier of rare earth metals, which are critical inputs for modern industries such as renewable energy, automobile manufacturing, and defense.
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temporal
Describes market position and strategic importance of rare earth metals.
Australia is estimated to hold at least 5% of the world's rare earth reserves and to account for roughly 8% of global rare earth production.
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Provides scale of Australia's rare earth resource base and production share.
Rare earth elements commonly occur in low concentrations and are chemically difficult to separate from ore, requiring complex refining processes that can take years to develop and that can cause environmental degradation if not managed properly.
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temporal
Explains technical and environmental challenges across the rare earth value chain.