RARE EARTHS | Details

The 17 rare-earth elements are scandium (Sc), yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb) and lutetium (Lu).

World mine production of rare earths in 2010:

China: 130,000 tons

India: 2,700 tons

Brazil: 440 tons

Malaysia: 350 tons

U.S.: 0 tons

World rare-earth reserves in 2010:

China: 55 million tons

Russia: 19 million tons

U.S.: 13 million tons

India: 3.1 million tons

Australia: 1.6 million tons

Other countries: 22 million tons

Estimated use of rare earths in the U.S. in 2009:

22 percent: chemical catalysts

21 percent: metallurgical applications and alloys

14 percent: petroleum refining catalysts

13 percent: automotive catalytic converters

9 percent: glass polishing and ceramics

8 percent: phosphors for computer monitors, lighting, radar, televisions and X-ray intensifying film

7 percent: permanent magnets used in weaponry, wind turbines, antilock brakes, cellphones

3 percent: electronics

3 percent: other

Source: U.S. Geological Survey