Mining the consequences of the

rare earths industry

Keith Veronese
Saturday, February 25, 2017 - 2:00am
https://www.greenbiz.com/

There are over 30 pounds of rare earth metals inside of

each Toyota Prius that comes off a production line, with
most of that mass split between rare earth components
essential to motors and the rechargeable battery.
Cost and profit are bulwarks that will not be entrenched
on the world stage through the emotional whims of
patriotism or tradition — moments after a product is
available at a lower cost from a different supplier,
buyers will flock to the new supplier.
By the year 2016, the population of China is projected to consume one hundred
and thirty thousand tons of rare earth metals a year, a number equivalent to the
entire planet’s consumption in the beginning of this decade.