Mining isn’t the problem — refining is.
The U.S. could dig up all the rare earths it wants, but we currently send the raw concentrate to China to be processed, because we lack domestic refining infrastructure, especially for heavy rare earths like terbium and dysprosium.
The U.S. could dig up all the rare earths it wants, but we currently send the raw concentrate to China to be processed, because we lack domestic refining infrastructure, especially for heavy rare earths like terbium and dysprosium.
Comments
Without refining, rare earths are just dirt. And right now, China controls nearly 90% of the global refining capacity.