All Rare Earth Elements Education Resources
Los Angeles Times- The hidden costs of China’s rare-earth trade
Article describing the environmental degradation and toxic pollution caused by REE mining in Jiangxi Province, China and the health risks for nearby villagers (as well as some small-scale protests).
BBC- The dystopian lake filled by the world’s tech lust
An article (written in a journalistic/immersive style and with various photos of the site) on the environmental costs of rare earth mining in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, one of the industrial centres of rare earth mining production, with a particular focus on the artificial toxic lake in Baotao, created to be a tailings pond.
Metals in a Low-Carbon Economy: Resource Scarcity, Climate Change and Business in a Finite World
A report produced by experts from the Stockholm Environment Institute and Leeds Uni about REE, provides an overview of REE industry through business perspective
PODCAST - Julie Klinger on China’s rare earth frontier
An interesting podcast talks about REE production in China.
21:30: How China’s near-monopoly on rare earths came to be
32:49: Mining and environmental degradation
45:32: China’s decision to slow down rare earth production and its consequences
Podcast | Where Will We Get the Rare Earth Minerals for Our Electric Cars?
Very interesting 22 mins podcast about REE’s impacts on electric cars
Elemental Business: Rare Earths
A 18 mins Podcaset about REE in business by BBC.
Rare Earth Magnets and Motors: A European Call for Action
A report produced by European Raw Material Alliance discusses the importance of REE in making vehicles and motors
The Rare Earth Elements by the British Geological Survey
A report produced by the Natural Environmental Research Council of Britain. It talks every aspects of REE, such as chemistry, extraction, trading in the UK
Rare Earth Element (Overview)
An encyclopedia about REE. This website includes the electronic structure and ionic radius, separation chemistry (Ion exchange, solvent extraction), the chemical process the prepare the REE metals, the properties of the metals (crystal structures, electrical properties...), compounds of REE, nuclear properties, and toxicity of REE
The dystopian lake filled by the world’s tech lust
An article discusses the REE mining pollution in China, provides lots of site pictures.
Room to Manoeuvre? Mining, biodiversity and protected areas
A report talks about general mining and impacts to biodiversity and ecosystem. Free access, about 60 pages, produced by the international institute for environment and development.
The Race Is On to Mine the Deep Sea—But Scientists Are Wary
An article produced by the national geographic. It talks about the threats of REE mining to biodiversity in the ocean.
Mining Rare-Earth Elements from Fossilized Fish
An interesting article about the impacts of mining REE to fish. It discusses that REE mining threats submarine biodiversity
A Climate Solution Lies Deep Under the Ocean—But Accessing It Could Have Huge Environmental Costs
A Time magazine article, including a 4 mins video, talks about REE mining under the ocean and the potential impacts to submarine biodiversity, environmental challenges, and other concerns.
Another blow to troubled Madagascar rare earth mine
A follow up of the REE mining impacts in Madagascar
Troubled firm aims to mine Madagascar forest for rare earth elements
Singapore-based ISR Capital is under investigation for financial misconduct related to its acquisition of a rare earth mining project in northwestern Madagascar. The project faces stiff local opposition due to its potential impact on the area’s people and wildlife.
Boom in Mining Rare Earths Poses Mounting Toxic Risks
An article published at the Yale University, School of Environment. The article discusses REE mining and its negative environmental impacts (include ecosystem) with multiple examples.
Rare earth elements and old mines spell trouble for Western U.S. water supplies
An article about REE mines and impacts on water supplies and biodiversity in Colorado, USA.
Rare earth mining in China: the bleak social and environmental costs
An article by the Guardian. It discussed the environmental consequences of unsustainable mining in China. It includes very interesting site maps and pictures (Check the references).
Rare Earth Mining: The Dark Underside of Sustainability
An article discusses unsustainable issues during REE production and mining.