Ce que c'est
A rare-earth phosphate found in heavy mineral sands. Carries thorium, so it is radioactive enough to be regulated.
Matériaux qui en proviennent
| Matériau | Rôle | Note sur la teneur |
|---|---|---|
| Cerium | Major source | — |
| Lanthanum | Major source | — |
| Neodymium | Major source | — |
| Praseodymium | Major source | — |
| Rare Earths (all) | Major, carries thorium | — |
| Samarium | Major source | — |
| Thorium | Principal source | — |
Cerium
The most abundant rare earth — more common in the crust than copper — mostly used as a polishing powder and in…
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…
Thorium
A weakly radioactive metal three to four times more common than uranium, which can be bred into nuclear fuel but is…