Rare earths running out: Should we be worried?

Question

I read that every mobile phone would be the size of a brick if these 'rare earth' metals weren't used in them - should we be worried about them running out? Can they be recycled or are there alternatives?

Answer 1

There has been some concern in recent years as to rare earth's being depleted or becoming scarcer due to rapid increases in cell phone production, electric cars or hybrids which use them for motors/electronics, military and high-tech equipment, etc......China is a major supplier (some 97 percent) and is starting to restrict sales/hoarding. So the race is on to find new sources of rare earth's with some promising results although there are still economic and environmental concerns. A recent discovery indicates that portions of the ocean floor contain abundant amounts of rare earth's...manganese nodules as well.... and some companies in the US are exploring sites in this country and elsewhere. The US use to be a major supplier but has closed many mines due to restrictions and labor costs...cheaper to buy from China but that may change as demand rises and for national security issues.



"Huge rare earth deposits found in Pacific: Japan experts



TOKYO (Reuters) – Vast deposits of rare earth minerals, crucial in making high-tech electronics products, have been found on the floor of the Pacific Ocean and can be readily extracted, Japanese scientists said on Monday.



"The deposits have a heavy concentration of rare earths. Just one square kilometer (0.4 square mile) of deposits will be able to provide one-fifth of the current global annual consumption," said Yasuhiro Kato, an associate professor of earth science at the University of Tokyo."



http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110704/ts_nm/us_rareearth_japan



http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/07/23/23greenwire-rush-on-for-rare-earths-as-us-firms-seek-to-co-58814.html?pagewanted=all



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/science/09seafloor.html?_r=1&hpw



http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/11/09/multimedia/1248069308573/the-future-of-mining-under-the-sea.html



http://gas2.org/2008/10/13/lithium-counterpoint-no-shortage-for-electric-cars/











http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13777439

Answer 2

We should be worried because this will mean that all the gadgets that we have will no longer exist, such as phones. They need rare earth materials and without these they are really big. This is because the metals can help to simplify all the material on a phone, so we can get things such as internet connection because the metal can connect to internet very quickly using the rare earth material. They can be recycled, just take your phone to your local phone shop as they can recycle your old phone for cash to buy a new one. There are alternatives though, what we could do is limit the amount of rare earth metal we use. China is doing this.

Answer 3

You need not worry about the rare earth materials, while not common in the earth's crust, there are sufficient amounts for the future. Most are recovered from recycled electronic devices anyway.



What is more probable is some will claim there is a shortage just to manipulate the marketplace. I which case, your Iphone would run about 5000 to 10000 dollars (US) in the stores.

Answer 4

The should probably be recycled - I read that some are more expensive per gram than gold, and we already recycle gold from electronics - albeit in an unsafe way in some third-world slum using child labour.

Answer 5

China has a large supply and were selling to us. They upped the prices big time. So, now a company called MOLYCORP in Mountain Pass,Ca is reopening and greatly expanding their rare earth mine. This will be the only one in the US, possibly in North America

Answer 6

We should be worried because they are used in many objects despite being in rarity.

Recycling them would cost too much money and resources.

There are alternatives but they cost too much right now to mass produce but if we continue to research alternatives we can eventually find a cheap alternative

Answer 7

yes back in 1948 fairfield osbourne warned people on this in his book our plundered planet.

osbourne explained how erision of soil nutirients from over farming and chemical practices andpollution lead to collapse of civilizations the erosion and irrigation methods of the summerians for example. said same thing only worse due to pollution happens with norrth american civilization.

Answer 8

I'm not so sure we should be worried because if it really were rare they would cost very expensive no matter how horrible it would be. Ex: the old Motorolla C118 would cost around $10000 now they are cheaper than for FREE!!!

Answer 9

as long as man does not mark a line of limit

in consumption no scope or hope

Answer 10

I read stuff to. Worry is great!

Love of design has a being!

EARTH garners a warm framework---human habitation may involve a grand aspiration not to be dis-included! Hope you like my be!