Rare earth minerals are getting more attention these days. Rare earth elements are a group of 17 chemical elements that have a variety of industrial and defense uses. They include yttrium and scandium and 15 elements in the lanthanum series. Lanthanum is used to prevent corrosion in EV batteries and is used in optical lens treatments. While the actual elements may not be rare, it is often difficult to find them in sufficient concentrations for economical extraction, and they require extensive processing. Beyond rare earths, minerals that are becoming of increasing importance include cobalt, natural graphite, and lithium, many of which are critical elements in battery technologies and needed in the transition away from fossil fuels.Read More >>