What it is
The world's principal light rare-earth mineral, mined from carbonatites. Low in thorium, which makes it easier to permit than monazite.
Materials that come from it
| Material | Role | Grade note |
|---|---|---|
| Cerium | Principal source | — |
| Europium | Principal source | — |
| Lanthanum | Principal source | — |
| Neodymium | Principal source | — |
| Praseodymium | Principal source | — |
| Rare Earths (all) | Principal light-REE ore | — |
| Samarium | Principal source | — |
Cerium
The most abundant rare earth — more common in the crust than copper — mostly used as a polishing powder and in…
Europium
The rare earth that glows red under ultraviolet light, and which for decades put the red in every colour television.
Lanthanum
The first of the rare earths, used by the tonne in the catalysts that crack crude oil into petrol.
Neodymium
The rare earth at the heart of the strongest magnet ever made — the kind in headphones, hard drives, wind turbines…
Praseodymium
Neodymium's near-twin, so alike that magnet makers usually do not bother separating the two and sell them together as…
Rare Earths (all)
A family of seventeen metals that are not actually rare in the ground, but are hard to separate from each other…
Samarium
The rare earth in the magnet that works where neodymium cannot: very hot, or very cold, or in a place that must not…