The Importance of Rare Earth Minerals and Trade with China

By Danielle Junio | Published by April 26, 2019

From the electronics, medical equipment, and vehicles Americans use daily, the United States clearly depends on the use of Rare-earth minerals.

Erin Wright, a Junior Bio Special Education Major from Kean University, said, “I think rare Earth elements are elements that occur naturally throughout the environment and could be used as chemical catalysts and have many other implementations.”

In a CBS “60 Minutes” episode called “Modern Life’s Devices Under China’s Grip?” interviewer Leslie Stahl noted that “rare Earth elements” were discovered in the 1960s. At first, geologists considered them to be geological abnormalities, since these earth elements were noted to have the strongest magnetic traits, luminescent features, and etc. anyone has ever witnessed.

To prove their theory, scientists have conducted various experiments and concluded that only a small amount of these rare elements can produce magnets that are able to lift objects that are a thousand times their weight. However, what they did not know was that these geological “abnormalities” would lead to a technological revolution.

The American Geosciences Institute and Harmonic Shield Corporation listed a majority of the items Americans use that consist of these rare Earth elements.

Electronics:

• TVs, computers/laptops, cell phones, silicon chips, monitors, long-life rechargeable batteries, camera lenses, LED lighting, fluorescent lamps (CFLs), airport baggage scanners, marine propulsion systems, electric windows, electric seats, and speakers, power steering, GIS Systems.

Manufacturing:

• High strength magnets, metal alloys, stress gauges, pigments/colorants in ceramics and glassware, chemical oxidizing agents, polishing powders, plastic, strengthening other metals, automotive catalytic converters, and steel making.

Medical Science:

• X-ray machines, MRI machines, contrast agents, nuclear medicine imaging, cancer treatments, genetic screening, and medical/dental lasers.

Technology:

• Lasers, optical glass, fiber optics, radar detection devices, nuclear fuel rods, mercury-vapor lamps, highly reflective glass, computer memory, nuclear batteries, high temperature superconductors, hard disks, CD-ROM, and DVDs .

Renewable Energy:

• Hybrid vehicles, wind turbines, and biofuel catalysts.

These rare earth elements are not extremely hard to find. They say that a majority of people could find these elements in their backyards hidden inside rocks. What gives them the “rare” title is that these elements are usually only found in tiny abundances. This causes a few discrepancies since people try not to mine for these minerals if there is not an abundance of them in one specific area since obtaining these elements is a long and hazardous process that involves chemicals, water, and toxic waste.

The United States started this rare Earth element revolution and was the first country to create this extremely advanced technology, but China is the main provider for these rare elements. Without them, we would not have the technology that we have today which has led to some power struggles between the United States and China.

To be more specific, in the interview with Lesley Sthal, states that “one country has a virtual monopoly – roughly 90 percent — of the mining, refining and processing of rare Earths — China. And in 2010, it used that power to disrupt the world’s supply. It’s especially troubling, because it was the United States that started the rare earth revolution in the first place.”

This can cause tension since the United States created these devices with the elements provided to them, but if they are ever cut off to these elements from China, everything will be placed on a major stand-still and could potentially put the United States in jeopardy.

The interview uses a car as an example by explaining how hybrid cars like “A Prius has roughly 25 pounds of rare earths in a single vehicle.” Since we are becoming reliant on these elements we would technically be lost if we no longer had easy access to them.

“I think trade with China is extremely important,” said Jennifer Torres, a current Kean University student. “Mostly everything we use comes from a foreign country (specifically China) and without trade, we would not have a lot of stuff. Without trade with them we won’t have a lot of those metals we need to make stuff.”

Trade with China for these rare minerals is also critical to the United States since all of the new and improved weapons our military has contains a bunch or rare Earth minerals. Sthal even states that “the guidance systems on weapons system and tomahawk cruise missile, any of the smart bombs have rare earths in them.”

Former White House Official Dan McGroarty says that’s just for starters. As a result, if the United States ever gets cut off from trade with China, they would not only not be able to continuously push out new technology, but also would not be suitable to sustain a strong defense system since there would be a very limited supply of rare Earth minerals.

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