Europe Mining Insight - 2025-08-01

Abstract

In this Q&A article series, we shed light on the factors driving the current heightened global interest in rare earth elements (REEs), discussing the critical role they play in the green energy transition, the geographic concentration of supply and the associated vulnerabilities. This article is the first in a two-part Q&A series on rare earth. In this research note, we explore where rare earths are typically found, in which minerals they occur, how rare they are and examine the wide-ranging applications of these minerals. The second article will outline the major players that dominate production and provide a deep dive into the latest developments in seabed mining, the new frontier poised to shore up the global rare earths supply chain.