Download - Rare Earths 101
RARE EARTHS 101THE BASicS, EconomicS, Supply cHAin
And ApplicATionS
The rare earth elements are the 15 lanthanides: lanthanum (La - #57) through to lutetium(Lu - #71), plus yttrium (Y - #39)
REE are grouped as light rare earth elements (LREE) or heavy rare earth elements (HREE). Whilethey are not particularly “rare” in the earth’s crust, they are generally not concentrated incommercially viable ore deposits.
LREE (Light rare earth elements)
*Those in bold have been identified as “critical” rare earth elements by the U.S. Department of Energy
RARE EARTH BASicS
3
Li4
Be
40
Zr41
Nb
31
Ga32
Ge
72
Hf73
Ta
58
Ce59
Pr60
Nd61
Pm62
Sm63
Eu64
Gd65
Tb66
Dy67
Ho68
Er69
Tm70
Yb71
Lu
49
In50
Sn
Other Rare Metals Light Rare Earths Heavy Rare Earths
57
La
37
Rb55
Cs
39
Y
Silver, silvery-white, or gray
High luster, but tarnish in air
High electrical conductivity
Occur together in minerals
Many fluoresce strongly under UVlighting
High melting and boiling points
Catalytic, chemical, electrical, metallurgical,nuclear, magnetic and optical properties
Most REE compounds are stronglyparamagnetic
common pRopERTiES oF RARE EARTHS
Lanthanum (La) Cerium (Ce)Praseodymium (Pr)
Neodymium (Nd)Samarium (Sm)
Europium (Eu) Gadolinium (Gd)Terbium (Tb)Dysprosium (Dy)Holmium (Ho)
Erbium (Er)Thulium (Tm)Ytterbium (Yb)Lutetium (Lu)Yttrium (Y)
HREE (Heavy rare earth elements)
RARE EARTH EconomicS
Rare Earth oxide demand at 150,000-170,000 tonnes
Supplyat 180,000-210,000 tonnes
Cerium 70,000 80,000Neodymium 25,000-30,000 30,000-35,000Europium 350-400 400-450Dysprosium 800-850 1,000
Terbium 450-500 250-300Yttrium 9,000-10,000 7,000-8,000
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Forecast Supply and demand forindividual Rare Earths in 2016
2008 2010 2011 2013 2020 Forecast
Estimatedglobal demand 124,000 123,000 110,000 120,000-130,000 200,000-240,000(tonnes REO)
Total value $1.25-2 billion $2.5-3 billion $10-15 billion $3-5 billion Not available(USD $)
USD $/kg $15-20/kg $30-40/kg $140-180/kg $40-60/kg $40-60/kgREO
Tonnes rare 125,000 109,000 98,000 90,000-100,000 Not availableearth oxides
% of global 97% 95% 94% 80-85% Not availablesupply
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The Rare Earths market 2008-2013
China continues to dominate the rare earths market in both production and consumption. It is forecastedthat in the next five to ten years, China may become an importer of heavy rare earths. China willcontinue to maximize value added supply chain within China, consolidate rare earth producers toimprove environmental practices, limit exports of rare earths, and start to stockpile.
GLOBAL MARKET VALUE
CHINA PRODUCTION
Tonnes rare 68,000 74,000 75,000 80,000-85,000 Not availableearth oxides
% of global 55% 60% 68% 66% Not availablesupply
CHINA CONSUMPTION
Importanceof rare earthsin moderntechnology isbeginning tobe recognized
NOTABLE EVENTS
China reducesexport quotasby 40%
Huge priceincreases of500-1,000%,significantsmugglingout of China
China cuttingproductionstockpiling,consolidating,trying to set prices
Supply in 2020to be 240,000-280,000 tonnesREO with theheavy rare earthsstill a concern
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From smart phones to hybrid cards, windgenerators to medical technologies...rare metals certainly do matter!
RARE EARTHS liFEcyclE
www.raremetalsmatter.com
Rare earth elements (REE) are non-toxic elements essential to a cleaner environment andreduced reliance on fossil fuels. They are the key ingredients in today’s modern electronic,green and health technologies. World demand for REE in 2013 is estimated at 120,000tonnes and growing with the demand for these higher value applications.
SuSTAinABiliTy in minERAl dEVElopmEnT
RARE EARTH ApplicATionS
Rare earth elements are key componentsfor modern green and clean technologies.Avalon prides itself on being a companywholly committed to the principles ofsustainable development and is devoted toensuring that economic extraction of the rareearths are done in a safe, environmentallyand socially responsible manner.
Avalon has committed itself to reporting onand measuring sustainability in the frameworkof the Global Reporting Initiative (the “GRI”),Version G3.1. Avalon also reports on performanceindicators from the Mining Association ofCanada’s ‘Toward Sustainable Mining’principles and guidelines.
Avalon’s 2013 Sustainability Report entitledALIGN. OPTIMIZE. INNOVATE., can be foundonline at www.avalonraremetals.com.
Source: Roskill Estimates, Nov. 2012
SUSTAINABILITY IN MINERAL DEVELOPMENT
R a re e arth elements a re k e y components for mode rn green and cle an techn ologi es. Avalon prides
it self on being a compan y wholl y comm it ted to the principles of sust ainabl e developm ent and is
devoted to ensuring that t he cre ati on of these mat e rials i s done in a n enviro nmentall y,
economi call y, and soci all y r esponsi ble manner.
Avalon has dedic ated its elf to reporting on and m easuring sust ainabili t y in the frame work of the
Global R eporting Init iati ve V ersion G3.1 . Avalon also repo rt s on performan ce
Tow ard Sust ainable Mi ning
guidelines.
Align. Optimize. Innovate., c an be found onli ne at
www.avalon rar emetals.c om.
Global demand for REEby End-use in 2012
One of the most important applications of REEis high strength permanent neodymiummagnets (NdFeB) or “neo-magnets”. They areessential to many consumer products such asmicrophones, loudspeakers, headphones andcomputer hard drives. Higher value productsthat use large amounts of neo-magnets includehybrid and electric vehicles, industrial motors,air conditioners, electronic bicycles and windand tidal turbine generators. Demand forneo-magnets is estimated to grow by 6-8% peryear to 2016.
Another very important application of REE,particularly yttrium, terbium and erbium, arelight emitting diodes, or better known as LED’s.The global LED market is estimated to beU$94 billion by 2020, representing approximately60% of the total lighting market. The compoundannual growth rate between 2010 and 2016 isestimated at 35%. (Source: LED Magazine)
Color monitors for computers, consumerelectronics and televisions are dependent onREE phosphors for the colours red (europium),blue (europium) and green (terbium). Glassmonitors, and other glass applications such ascameras, also require cerium oxide as a polishingcompound.
The use of REE in medical applications isincreasing due to new drug treatments,diagnostic techniques and medical equipment.
Another main use of REE i s cata lysts ,specifically fluid cracking catalysts used in therefining of crude oil.
RARE EARTH ApplicATionS