@article{dade719339fd43f5a76bbab21650c767,
title = "Recent advances in the global rare-earth supply chain",
abstract = "The current global rare-earth element (REE) supply chain is highly imbalanced and tightly controlled by just a few countries. Such an imbalance of the critical metals supply chain poses a significant challenge to the energy-transition strategies and the national security of many countries. This issue of MRS Bulletin delves into the materials science aspects of the REE supply chain, including fundamental REE mineralogy, REE separation and extraction, REE mining economics, the environmental impacts of REE mining and processing, and circular economy potential for REEs. This issue of MRS Bulletin is meant to inform the materials science community of some of the constraints on REE production from the mining of ore deposits, through processing technologies, and then finally, the possibility of recycling. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].",
keywords = "Circular economy, Extraction, Mining, Processing, Rare earths, Separation",
author = "Gorakh Pawar and Ewing, \{Rodney C.\}",
note = "Funding Information: Consequently, the United States and other countries should take several immediate actions to reduce the dependence on Chinese REEs and develop an alternative REEs supply chain ( Figure ). First and foremost, the United States should stockpile rare earths to support the defense technologies critical for national security. Recently, Japan has extended its stockpile of critical materials from 60 to 180 days of domestic consumption. The United States should adopt a similar strategy. Second, the United States should revisit the stringent mining and environmental policies and address the bottlenecks in promoting sustainable mining practices in the United States. The US Government has recently taken initiatives in this direction. For instance, the MP Materials received \$35 million from the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program of the US Department of Defense. MP Materials will process heavy REE and domestically establish a permanent magnet supply chain. Further, the US Department of Energy, contingent upon an award from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding, will launch a \$140 million demonstration project to separate REE and critical metals from coal ash and other mine waste. Funding Information: This work was supported by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), which is operated by the Battelle Energy Alliance for the US Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC07-051D14517. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive License to the Materials Research Society.",
year = "2022",
month = jun,
day = "2",
doi = "10.1557/s43577-022-00305-6",
language = "English",
volume = "47",
pages = "244--249",
journal = "MRS Bulletin",
issn = "0883-7694",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
number = "3",
}