AI Overview Rare earth metals are not as rare as their name suggests. While they are not the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust, they are relatively common, with some being as abundant s copper or lead. However, their scarcity is in their uneven distribution and concentration within ores, making extraction more challenging and costly.
Abundance: Rare earth elements are found in the Earth's crust, with some like cerium (the most abundant) being in the top 30 most common elements.
Misconception: The name "rare earth" is a bit misleading, as these elements are not particularly rare in terms of abundance.
Extraction challenges: The main reason for their perceived rarity is that they are often found dispersed in various minerals and at low concentrations, making it difficult and expensive to extract them in commercially viable quantities.
Economic scarcity: The fact that they are not found in high concentrations in specific locations has made some rare earth elements economically scarce.
Global distribution: Rare earth elements are distributed relatively evenly across the globe, but their concentrations vary significantly.
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