Stockholm, Sweden – A groundbreaking study published on Tuesday revealed that extinct volcanoes around the world may hold a hidden treasure trove of rare earth elements essential for green technologies like electric vehicles and wind turbines. These rare earth elements, such as lanthanum, neodymium, and terbium, play a crucial role in transitioning away from fossil fuels to combat climate change.
While these rare earths are not as rare as their name suggests, extracting them can be challenging due to their low concentrations in the earth’s crust. As countries seek alternatives to reduce their dependence on China, which currently dominates the global supply chain for rare earth elements, the discovery of these elements in extinct volcanoes offers a promising opportunity for diversification.
Researchers from the Australian National University and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences embarked on a mission to uncover the mysteries behind the presence of rare earth elements in iron-rich volcanoes. By simulating a magma chamber in a lab setting, they found that the unique iron-rich magma in these extinct volcanoes had a significantly higher efficiency in concentrating rare earth elements compared to conventional volcanoes.
The implications of this study extend beyond scientific curiosity, offering a potential solution to the environmental and human rights challenges associated with traditional rare earth mining. By exploring the possibility of extracting rare earth elements from existing mining sites, researchers hope to minimize the environmental impact of mining activities and reduce human rights abuses linked to the rare earth supply chain.
In addition, the study highlights the importance of recycling rare earth elements from old electronic devices as a sustainable alternative to mining. By tapping into this overlooked source of rare earths, researchers believe that the need for environmentally harmful mining practices could be significantly reduced, paving the way for a more sustainable future.