Rare Earth Elements: Scientists Map Global Deposits

Rare earth elements — a group of seventeen metallic elements with names like neodymium, dysprosium and terbium — are essential components of modern technology. They are used in the magnets that power electric vehicle motors, in the screens of smartphones and laptops, in wind turbines, and in a wide range of defence applications. Despite their name, they are not particularly rare in the Earth's crust, but economically viable deposits are highly concentrated, and the extraction and processing of rare earths is a technically complex and environmentally challenging process.

Scientists published a landmark study in May 2026 creating what they describe as a global "treasure map" for rare earth deposits. By combining thousands of rock sample analyses with geological modelling, the researchers identified the conditions under which carbonatites — unusual volcanic rocks that are the primary source of many rare earth elements — are most likely to form and to host economically significant deposits. The map highlights regions in Africa, Central Asia and parts of South America as particularly promising targets for future exploration.

The distribution of rare earth deposits is a major geopolitical issue. China currently controls approximately 60 percent of global rare earth production and an even larger share of processing capacity. Western governments and companies have identified rare earth supply chains as a critical vulnerability, and there is intense interest in diversifying production away from China.

The environmental cost of rare earth mining is significant. The extraction process generates large quantities of radioactive waste, and historical mining operations have left heavily contaminated sites in several countries. Any expansion of rare earth production to meet the growing demands of the green energy transition will need to address these environmental concerns head-on.