Where Next-Generation Rare Earth Metals May Come From

retroworks writes "Great piece in The Atlantic by Kyle Wiens of IFIXIT.org, who visited and photographed the Molycorp Mountain Pass rare earth facility in California's Mojave Desert. The mine is the only source of rare earths in North America, one of the only alternatives to the mineral cartels in China, and one of the only sources for the key metals such as tantalum needed in cell phones. There is of course actually one other source of rare earth metals in the USA — recycled cell phones. Is the best 'state of the art' mining as good as the worst state of the art recycling? If the U.S. Department of Energy subsidizes the mine, will China open the floodgates and put it out of business? Or will electronics be manufactured with alternative materials before the mine ever becomes fully scaleable?"

Comments

In a not so distant future...

[hcs_$reboot]

...rare Earth metals may come from the Moon. We didn't do that yet, because no one knows how to call them.

Re:Not the only place

[Ihmhi]

It's not like you pick axe out a block of Yttiribilium (or however you spell these silly names).

WHAT?! Minecraft LIED to me!