blog #16
Physics & Math Where to Find Rare Earth Elements
by Anissa Ramirez
April 2nd, 2013
Rare earth materials are integral to nearly all our devices and products. However, 97% of all rare earth materials are concentrated in China, which has recently driven up the monopoly on their supply. Among these, cell phones, electric cars, wind turbines, solar cells, and batteries, depend heavily on the nation's supply. Therefore, rising cost do not only impact manufacturers, but also threaten to bring the sustainable energy movement to a standstill. Since rare earth are not found in veins, mining for them is quite difficult. The process of extraction threatens the communities surrounding the mines as well, for one of its major by-products is radioactive waste.
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