This book deals with the rare earth elements (REE) which are a series of 17 transition metals:
scandium yttrium and the lanthanide series of elements (lanthanum cerium praseodymium
neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium
thulium ytterbium and lutetium). They are relatively unknown to the wider public despite
their numerous applications and their critical role in many high-tech applications such as
high-temperature superconductors phosphors (for energy-saving lamps flat-screen monitors and
flat-screen televisions) rechargeable batteries (household and automotive) very strong
permanent magnets (used for instance in wind turbines and hard-disk drives) or even in a
medical MRI application. This book describes the history of their discovery the major REE ore
minerals and the major ore deposits that are presently being exploited (or are planned to be
exploited in the very near future) the physical and chemical properties of REEs the mineral
processing of REE concentrates and their extractive metallurgy the applications of these
elements their economic aspects and the influential economical role of China and finally the
recycling of the REE which is an emerging field.
